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THE  PIONEEKS 

OR 

THE  SOURCES  OF  THE  SUSQUEHANNA 


BY 

J.  FENIMOEE  COOPER. 


Extremes  of  habits,  manners,  time,  and  space, 
Brought  close  together,  here  stood  face  to  face, 
And  gave  at  once  a  contrast  to  the  view, 
That  other  lands  and  ages  never  knew. 

Paulding. 


NEW  YORK 
UNITED  STATES  BOOK  COMPANY 

SUCCESSORS  TO 

JOHN  W.  LOVELL  COMPANY 

150  WORTH  ST.,  COR.  MISSION  PLACE 


INTRODTJOTIOK 


As  this  work  professes,  in  its  title-page,  to  be  a  descrip- 
tive tale,  they  who  will  take  the  trouble  to  read  it  may  be 
glad  to  know  how  much  of  its  contents  is  literal  fact,  and 
how  much  is  intended  to  represent  a  general  picture.  The 
author  is  very  sensible  that,  had  he  confined  himself  to  the 
latter,  always  the  most  effective,  as  it  is  the  most  valuable 
mode  of  conveying  knowledge  of  this  nature,  he  would 
have  made  a  far  better  book.  But  in  commencing  to  de- 
scribe scenes,  and  perhaps  he  may  add  characters,  that  were 
so  familiar  to  his  own  youth,  there  was  a  constant  tempta- 
tion to  delineate  that  which  he  had  known,  rather  than 
that  which  he  might  have  imagined.  This  rigid  adhesion 
to  truth,  an  indispensable  requisite  in  history  and  travels, 
destroys  the  charm  of  fiction;  for  all  that  is  necessary  to 
be  conveyed  to  the  mind  by  the  latter  had  better  be  done 
by  delineations  of  principles,  and  of  characters  in  their 
classes,  than  by  a  too  fastidious  attention  to  originals. 

New  York  having  but  one  county  of  Otsego,  and  the 
Susquehanna  but  one  proper  source,  there  can  be  no  mis- 
take as  to  the  site  of  the  tale.  The  history  of  this  district 
of  country,  so  far  as  it  is  connected  with  civilized  men,  is 
soon  told. 

Otsego,  in  common  with  most  of  the  interior  of  the 
'province  of  New  York,  was  included  in  the  county  of 
Albany,  previously  to  the  war  of  the  separation.  It  then 
became,  in  a  subsequent  division  of  territory,  a  part  of 
Montgomery;  and,  finally,  having  obtained  a  sufficient 
population  of  its  own,  it  was  set  apart  as  a  county  by  itself, 
shortly  after  the  peace  of  1783.  It  lies  among  those  low 
spurs  of  the  Alleghanies  which  cover  the  midland  counties 
of  New  York ;  and  it  is  a  little  east  of  a  meridional  line 
drawn  through  the  centre  of  the  State.  As  the  waters  of 
|  New  York  either  flow  southerly  into  the  Atlantic  or  north- 


4 


INTRODUCTION. 


erly  into  Ontario  and  its  outlet,  Otsego  Lake,  being  the 
source  of  the  Susquehanna,  is,  of  necessity,  among  its  high- 
est lands.  The  face  of  the  country,  the  climate  as  it  was 
found  by  the  whites,  and  the  manners  of  the  settlers,  are 
described  with  a  minuteness  for  which  the  author  has  no 
other  apology  than  the  force  of  his  own  recollections. 

Otsego  is  said  to  be  a  word  compounded  of  Ot,  a  place 
of  meeting,  and  Sego,  or  Sago,  the  ordinary  term  of  saluta- 
tion used  by  the  Indians  of  this  region.  There  is  a  tradi- 
tion which  says  that  the  neighboring  tribes  were  accus- 
tomed to  meet  on  the  banks  of  the  lake  to  make  their 
treaties,  and  otherwise  to  strengthen  their  alliances,  and 
which  refers  the  name  to  this  practice.  As  the  Indian 
agent  of  New  York  had  a  log  dwelling  at  the  foot  of  the 
lake,  however,  it  is  not  impossible  that  the  appellation 
grew  out  of  the  meetings  that  were  held  at  his  council 
fires;  the  war  drove  off  the  agent,  in  common  with  the 
other  officers  of  the  crown ;  and  his  rude  dwelling  was  soon 
abandoned.  The  author  remembers  it  a  few  years  later, 
reduced  to  the  humble  office  of  a  smoke-house. 

In  1779,  an  expedition  was  sent  against  the  hostile  In- 
dians, who  dwelt  about  a  hundred  miles  west  of  Otsego, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Cayuga.  The  whole  country  was  then 
a  wilderness,  and  it  was  necessary  to  transport  the  baggage 
of  the  troops  by  means  of  the  rivers,  a  devious  but  prac- 
ticable route.  One  brigade  ascended  the  Mohawk,  until  it 
reached  the  point  nearest  to  the  sources  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, whence  it  cut  a  lane  through  the  forest -to  the  head 
of  the  Otsego.  The  boats  and  baggage  were  carried  over 
this  "  portage,"  and  the  troops  proceeded  to  the  other  ex- 
tremity of  the  lake,  where  they  disembarked,  and  encamped. 
The  Susquehanna,  a  narrow  though  rapid  stream  at  its 
source,  was  much  filled  with  " flood  wood,"  or  fallen  trees; 
and  the  troops  adopted  a  novel  expedient  to  facilitate  their 
passage.  The  Otsego  is  about  nine  miles  in  length,  vary- 
ing in  breadth  from  half  a  mile  to  a  mile  and  a  half.  The 
water  is  of  great  depth,  limpid,  and  supplied  from  a  thou- 
sand springs.  At  its  foot,  the  banks  are  rather  less  than 
thirty  feet  high;  the  remainder  of  its  margin  being  in 
mountains,  intervals,  and  points.  The  outlet,  or  the  Sus- 
quehanna, flows  through  a  gorge  in  the  low  banks  just 
mentioned,  which  may  have  a  width  of  two  hundred  feet. 
This  gorge  was  dammed,  and  the  waters  of  the  lake  col- 
lected :  the  Susquehanna  was  converted  into  a  rill.    When  i 


IN  TROD  UCTION. 


all  was  ready,  the  troops  embarked,  the  dam  was  knocked 
away,  the  Otsego  poured  out  its  torrent,  and  the  boats 
went  merrily  down  with  the  current. 

General  James  Clinton,  the  brother  of  George  Clinton 
then  Governor  of  New  York,  and  the  father  of  De  Witt 
Clinton,  who  died  governor  of  the  same  State  in  1827 
commanded  the  brigade  employed  on  this  duty.  During 
the  stay  of  the  troops  at  the  foot  of  the  Otsego  a  soldier 
was  shot  for  desertion.  The  grave  of  this  unfortunate 
man  was  the  first  place  of  human  interment  that  the 
author  ever  beheld,  as  the  smoke-house  was  the  first  ruin 
The  swivel  alluded  to  in  this  work  was  buried  and  aban- 
doned by  the  troops  on  this  occasion;  and  it  was  subse- 
quently found  m  digging  the  cellars  of  the  author's  paternal 
residence. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Washington,  accom- 
panied by  many  distinguished  men,  visited  the  scene  of 
this  tale,  it  is  said,  with  a  view  to  examine  the  facilities  for 
opening  a  communication  by  water  with  other  points  of 
the  country.    He  stayed  but  a  few  hours. 

In  1785,  the  author's  father,  who  had  an  interest  in  ex- 
tensive tracts  of  land  in  this  wilderness,  arrived  with  a 
party  of  surveyors.  The  manner  in  which  the  scene  met 
his  eye  is  described  by  J udge  Temple.  At  the  commence- 
ment 01  the  following  year  the  settlement  began:  and 
trom  that  time  to  this  the  country  has  continued  to  flour- 
ish. It  is  a  singular  feature  in  American  life,  that,  at  the 
beginning  of  this  century,  when  the  proprietor  of  the  estate 
had  occasion  for  settlers  on  a  new  settlement,  and  in  a  re- 
mote county,  he  was  enabled  to  draw  them  from  among 
the  increase  of  the  former  colony. 

Although  the  settlement  of  this  part  of  Otsego  a  little 
preceded  the  birth  of  the  author,  it  was  not  sufficiently 
advanced  to  render  it  desirable  that  an  event,  so  important 
to  himself,  should  take  place  in  the  wilderness.  Perhaps 
his  mother  had  a  reasonable  distrust  of  the  practice  of  Dr. 
lodd,  who  must  then  have  been  in  the  novitiate  of  his 
experimental  acquirements.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  author 
was  brought  an  infant  into  this  valley,  and  all  his  first 
impressions  were  here  obtained.  He  has  inhabited  it  ever 
since,  at  intervals;  and  he  thinks  he  can  answer  for  the 
laitntulness  of  the  picture  he  has  drawn. 

Otsego  has  now  become  one  of  the  most  populous  dis- 
tricts of  New  York.    It  sends  forth  its  emigrants  like  any 


6  INTRODUCTION. 
which  is  exercised  in  this  remote  region. 

beauties  of  the  "  ~X^mS^  s5hX*  hectare, 
giving  his  name  to,  instead  oi  recei\  11,  i 

.  Though  forest*  *"V«^t?S£!"  E^^W^^/t^ 
the  Otsego  is  beginning:  to  be  a  nigfctuu  ^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


7 


penter,  and  most  of  the  others,  are  more  familiar  to  all 
who  have  ever  dwelt  in  a  new  country. 

It  may  be  well  to  say  here,  a  little  more  explicitly,  that 
there  was  no  intention  to  describe  with  particular  accuracy 
any  real  characters  in  this  book.  It  has  been  often  said, 
and  in  published  statements,  that  the  heroine  of  this  book 
was  drawn  after  a  sister  of  the  writer,  who  was  killed  by  a 
fall  from  a  horse  now  near  half  a  century  since.  So  in- 
genious is  conjecture,  that  a  personal  resemblance  has 
been  discovered  between  the  fictitious  character  and  the 
deceased  relative !  It  is  scarcely  possible  to  describe  two 
females  of  the  same  class  in  life,  who  would  be  less  alike, 
personally,  than  Elizabeth  Temple  and  the  sister  of  the 
author  who  met  with  the  deplorable  fate  mentioned.  In 
a  word,  they  were  as  unlike  in  this  respect,  as  in  history, 
character,  and  fortunes. 

Circumstances  rendered  this  sister  singularly  dear  to  the 
author.  After  a  lapse  of  half  a  century,  he  is  writing  this 
paragraph  with  a  pain  that  would  induce  him  to  cancel  it, 
were  it  not  still  more  painful  to  have  it  believed  that  one 
Whom  he  regarded  with  a  reverence  that  surpassed  the  love 
of  a  brother,  was  converted  by  him  into  the  heroine  of  a 
work  of  fiction. 

From  circumstances  which,  after  this  introduction,  will 
be  obvious  to  all,  the  author  has  had  more  pleasure  in 
writing  "  The  Pioneers  "  than  the  book  will,  probably,  ever 
give  any  of  its  readers.  He  is  quite  aware  of  its  numerous 
faults,  some  of  which  he  has  endeavored  to  repair  in  this 
edition;  but  as  he  has — in  intention,  at  least — done  his 
full  share  in  amusing  the  world,  he  trusts  to  its  good  nature 
for  overlooking  this  attempt  to  please  himself. 

Note.— The  Pioneers  was  first  published  in  1823,  being  the  first  of  the  Leather 
Stocking  Tales. 


THE  PIONEERS, 

or; 

THE  SOUECES  OF  THE  SUSQUEHANNA. 


CHAPTEK  I. 

See,  Winter  conies,  to  rule  the  varied  year, 

Sullen  and  sad,  with  all  his  rising  train ; 

Vapors,  and  clouds,  and  storms.  Thompson. 

Near  the  centre  of  the  State  of  New  York  lies  an  ex- 
tensive district  of  country,  whose  surface  is  a  succession  of 
hills  and  dales,  or,  to  speak  with  greater  deference  to  geo- 
graphical definitions,  of  mountains  and  valleys.  It  is 
among  these  hills  that  the  Delaware  takes  its  rise;  and 
flowing  from  the  limpid  lakes  and  thousand  springs  of 
this  region,  the  numerous  sources  of  the  Susquehanna 
meander  through  the  valleys,  until,  uniting  their  streams, 
they  form  one  of  the  proudest  rivers  of  the  United  States. 
The  mountains  are  generally  arable  to  the  tops,  although 
instances  are  not  wanting  where  the  sides  are  jutted  with 
rocks,  that  aid  greatly  in  giving  to  the  country  that  roman- 
tic and  picturesque  character  which  it  so  eminently  pos- 
sesses. The  vales  are  narrow,  rich,  and  cultivated,  with  a 
stream  uniformly  winding  through  each.  Beautiful  and 
thriving  villages  are  found  interspersed  along  the  margins 
of  the  small  lakes,  or  situated  at  those  points  of  the 
streams  which  are  favorable  to  manufacturing;  and  neat 
and  Comfortable  farms,  with  every  indication  of  wealth 
about  them,  are  scattered  profusely  through  the  vales,  and 
even  to  the  mountain  tops.  Roads  diverge  in  every  direc- 
tion, from  the  even  and  graceful  bottoms  of  the  valleys,  to 
the  most  rugged  and  intricate  passes  of  the  hills.  Acade- 


IO 


THE  PIONEERS. 


mies,  and  minor  edifices  of  learning,  meet  the  eye  of  the 
stranger  at  every  few  miles,  as  he  winds  his  way  through 
this  uneven  territory ;  and  places  for  the  worship  of  God 
abound  with  that  frequency  which  characterizes  a  moral 
and  reflecting  people,  and  with  that  variety  of  exterior 
and  canonical  government  which  flows  from  unfettered 
liberty  of  conscience.  In  short,  the  whole  district  is  hourly 
exhibiting  how  much  can  be  done,  in  even  a  rugged  coun- 
try, and  with  a  severe  climate,  under  the  dominion  of  mild 
laws,  and  where  every  man  feels  a  direct  interest  in  the 
prosperity  of  a  commonwealth,  of  which  he  knows  himself 
to  form  a  part.  The  expedients  of  the  pioneers  who  first 
broke  ground  in  the  settlement  of  this  country  are  suc- 
ceeded by  the  permanent  improvements  of  the  yeoman, 
who  intends  to  leave  his  remains  to  moulder  under  the  sod 
which  he  tills,  or,  perhaps,  of  the  son,  who,  born  in  the 
land,  piously  wishes  to  linger  around  the  grave  of  his 
father.  Only  forty  years  1  have  passed  since  this  territory 
was  a  wilderness. 

Very  soon  after  the  establishment  of  the  independence 
of  the  States,  by  the  peace  of  1783,  the  enterprise  of  their 
citizens  was  directed  to  a  development  of  the  natural  ad- 
vantages of  their  widely  extended  dominions.  Before  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  the  inhabited  parts  of  the  colony  of 
New  York  were  limited  to  less  than  a  tenth  of  its  posses- 
sions. A  narrow  belt  of  country,  extending  for  a  short 
distance  on  either  side  of  the  Hudson,  with  a  similar  oc- 
cupation of  fifty  miles  on  the  banks  of  the  Mohawk,  to- 
gether with  the  islands  of  Nassau  and  Staten,  and  a  few 
insulated  settlements  on  chosen  land  along  the  margins  of 
streams,  composed  the  country,  which  was  then  inhabited 
by  less  than  two  hundred  thousand  souls.  Within  the 
short  period  we  have  mentioned,  the  population  has  spread 
itself  over  five  degrees  of  latitude  and  seven  of  longitude, 
and  has  swelled  to  a  million  and  a  half  of  inhabitants,2 
who  are  maintained  in  abundance,  and  can  look  forward 
to  ages  before  the  evil  day  must  arrive,  when  their  posses- 
sions shall  become  unequal  to  their  wants. 

Our  tale  begins  in  1793,  about  seven  years  after  the 
commencement  of  one  of  the  earliest  of  those  settlements, 
which  have  conduced  to  affect  that  magical  change  in  the 
power  and  condition  of  the  State,  to  which  we  have  alluded. 


1  The  book  was  writtten  in  1803. 

2  The  population  of  New  York  is  now  (1831)"quite  2,000,000. 


THE  PIONEERS, 


ri 


It  was  near  the  setting  of  the  sun,  on  a  clear,  cold  day 
in  December,  when  a  sleigh  was  moving  slowly  up  one  of 
the  mountains,  in  the  district  we  have  described.  The  day 
had  been  fine  for  the  season,  and  but  two  or  three  large 
clouds,  whose  color  seemed  brightened  by  the  light  reflected 
from  the  mass  of  snOw  that  covered  the  earth,  floated  in  a 
sky  of  the  purest  blue.  The  road  wound  along  the  brow 
of  a  precipice,  and  on  one  side  was  upheld  by  a  founda- 
tion of  logs,  piled  one  upon  the  other,  while  a  narrow  ex- 
cavation in  the  mountain,  in  the  opposite  direction,  had 
made  a  passage  of  sufficient  width  for  the  ordinary  travel- 
ling of  that  day.  But  logs,  excavation,  and  everything 
that  did  not  reach  several  feet  above  the  earth,  lay  alike 
buried  beneath  the  snow.  A  single  track,  barely  wide 
enough  to  receive  the  sleigh,1  denoted  the  route  of  the 
highway,  and  this  was  sunk  nearly  two  feet  below  the  sur- 
rounding surface.  In  the  vale,  which  lay  at  a  distance  of 
several  hundred  feet  lower,  there  was  what  in  the  language 
of  the  country  was  called  a  clearing,  and  all  the  usual  im- 
provements of  a  new  settlement;  these  even  extended  up 
the  hill  to  the  point  where  the  road  turned  short  and  ran 
across  the  level  land,  which  lay  on  the  summit  of  the 
mountain;  but  the  summit  itself  remained  in  forest. 
There  was  a  glittering  in  the  atmosphere,  as  if  it  were 
filled  with  innumerable  shining  particles;  and  the  noble 
bay  horses  that  drew  the  sleigh  were  covered,  in  many 
parts,  with  a  coat  of  hoar-frost.  The  vapor  from  their 
nostrils  was  seen  to  issue  like  smoke;  and  every  object  in 
the  view,  as  well  as  every  arrangement  of  the  travellers, 
denoted  the  depth  of  a  winter  in  the  mountains.  The 
harness,  which  was  of  a  deep,  dull  black,  differing  from 
the  glossy  varnishing  of  the  present  day,  was  ornamented 
with  enormous  plates  and  buckles  of  brass,  that  shone  like 
gold  in  those  transient  beams  of  the  sun,  which  found 
their  way  obliquely  through  the  tops  of  the  trees.  Huge 
saddles,  studded  with  nails,  and  fitted  with  cloth  that 


1  Sleigh  is  the  word  used  in  every  part  of  the  United  States  to  denote  a  trai- 
neau.  It  is  of  local  use  in  the  west  of  England,  whence  it  is  most  probably  de- 
rived by  the  Americans.  The  latter  draw  a  distinction  between  a  sled,  or  sledge 
and  a  sleigh  ;  the  sleigh  being  shod  with  metal.  Sleighs  are  also  subdivided  into 
two-horse  and  one-horse  sleighs.  Of  the  latter,  there  are  the  cutter,  with  thills 
so  arranged  as  to  permit  the  horse  to  travel  in  the  side  track  ;  the  "pung,''''  or 
"tow-pung,"  which  is  driven  with  a  pole  ;  and  the  "jumper,11  a  rude  construc- 
tion used  for  temporary  purposes,  in  the  new  countries. 

Many  of  the  American  sleighs  are  elegant,  though  the  use  of  this  mode  of 
conveyance  is  much  lessened  with  the  melioration  of  the  climate,  consequent  on 
the  clearing  of  the  forests.  m 


12 


THE  PIONEERS. 


served  as  blankets  to  the  shoulders  of  the  cattle,  supported 
four  high,  square-topped  turrets,  through  which  the  stout 
reins  led  from  the  mouths  of  the  horses  to  the  hands  of 
the  driver,  who  was  a  negro,  of  apparently  twenty  years  of 
age.  His  face,  which  nature  had  colored  with  a  glistening 
black,  was  now  mottled  with  the  cold,  and  his  large  shin- 
ing eyes  filled  with  tears ;  a  tribute  to  its  power,  that  the 
keen  frosts  of  those  regions  always  extracted  from  one  of 
his  African  origin.  Still  there  was  a  smiling  expression 
of  good  humor  in  his  happy  countenance,  that  was  created 
by  the  thoughts  of  home,  and  a  Christmas  fireside,  with 
its  Christmas  frolics.  The  sleigh  was  one  of  those  large, 
comfortable,  old-fashioned  conveyances,  which  would  ad- 
mit a  whole  family  within  its  bosom,  but  which  now  con- 
tained only  two  passengers  besides  the  driver.  The  color 
of  its  outside  was  a  modest  ^enSn,  and  that  of  its  inside  a 
fiery  red.  The  latter  was  intended  to  convey  the  idea  of 
heat  in  that  cold  climate.  Large  buffalo  skins,  trimmed 
around  the  edges  with  red  cloth,  cut  into  festoons,  covered 
the  back  of  the  sleigh,  and  were  spread  over  its  bottom, 
and  drawn  up  around  the  feet  of  the  travellers — one  of 
whom  was  a  man  of  middle  age,  and  the  other  a  female, 
just  entering  upon  womanhood.  The  former  was  of  a 
large  stature ;  but  the  precautions  he  had  taken  to  guard 
against  the  cold  left  but  little  of  his  person  exposed  to 
view.  A  great-coat,  that  was  abundantly  ornamented  by 
a  profusion  of  furs,  enveloped  the  whole  of  his  figure,  ex- 
cepting the  head,  which  was  covered  with  a  cap  of  marten 
skins,  lined  with  morocco,  the  sides  of  which  were  made 
to  fall,  if  necessary,  and  were  now  drawn  close  over  the 
ears,  and  fastened  beneath  his  chin  with  a.  black  ribbon. 
The  top  of  the  cap  was  surmounted  with  the  tail  of  the 
animal  whose  skin  had  furnished  the  rest  of  the  materials, 
which  fell  back,  not  ungracefully,  a  few  inches  behind  the 
head.  From  beneath  this  mask  were  to  be  seen  part  of  a 
fine,  manly  face,  and  particularly  a  pair  of  expressive, 
large  blue  eyes,  that  promised  extraordinary  intellect, 
covert  humor,  and  great  benevolence.  The  form  of  his 
companion  was  literally  hid  beneath  the  garments  she 
wore.  There  were  furs  and  silks  peeping  from  under  a 
large  camlet  cloak,  with  a  thick  flannel  lining,  that,  by  its 
cut  and  size,  was  evidently  intended  for  a  masculine  wearer. 
A  huge  hood  of  black  silk,  that  was  quilted  with  down, 
concealed  the  whole  of  her  head,  except  at  a  small  opening 


V 


THE  PIONEERS.  13 

In  front  for  breath,  through  which  occasionally  Bg&rkled  a 
pair  of  animated,  jet-black  eyes. 

Both  the  father  and  daughter  (for  such  was  the  connec- 
tion between  the  two  travellers)  were  too  much  occupier] 
with  their  reflections  to  break  a  stillness,  that  received 
little  or  no  interruption  from  the  easy  gliding  of  the  sleigh, 
by  the  sound  of  their  voices.  The  former  was  thinking  of 
the  wife  that  had  held  this  their  only  child  to  her  bosom, 
when,  four  years  before,  she  had  reluctantly  consented  to 
relinquish  the  society  of  her  daughter,  in  order  that  the 
latter  might  enjoy  the  advantages  of  an  education,  which 
the  city  of  New  York  could  only  offer  at  that  period.  A 
few  months  afterwards  death  had  deprived  him  of  the  re- 
maining companion  of  his  solitude ;  but  still  he  had  enough 
of  real  regard  for  his  child,  not  to  bring  her  into  the  com- 
parative wilderness  in  which  he  dwelt,  until  the  full  period 
had  expired,  to  which  he  had  limited  her  juvenile  labors. 
The  reflections  of  the  daughter  were  less  melancholy,  and 
mingled  with  a  pleased  astonishment  at  the  novel  scenery 
she  met  at  every  turn  in  the  road. 

The  mountain  on  which  they  were  journeying  was  cov- 
ered with  pines,  that  rose  without  a  branch  some  seventy 
or  eighty  feet,  and  which  frequently  doubled  that  height, 
by  the  addition  of  the  tops.  Through  the  innumerable 
vistas  that  opened  beneath  the  lofty  trees,  the  eye  could 
penetrate,  until  it  was  met  by  a  distant  inequality  in  the 
ground,  or  was  stopped  by  a  view  of  the  summit  of  the 
mduntain,  which  lay  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  valley  to 
which  they  were  hastening.  The  dark  trunks  of  the  trees 
rose  from  the  pure  white  of  the  snow,  in  regularly  formed 
shafts,  until,  at  a  great  height,  their  branches  shot  forth 
horizontal  limbs,  that  were  covered  with  the  meagre  foliage 
of  an  evergreen,  affording  a  melancholy  contrast  to  the 
torpor  of  nature  below.  To  the  travellers,  there  seemed  to 
be  no  wind ;  but  these  pines  waved  majestically  at  their  top- 
most boughs,  sending  forth  a  dull,  plaintive  sound,  that  was 
quite  in  consonance  with  the  rest  of  the  melancholy  scene. 

The  sleigh  had  glided  for  some  distance  along  the  even 
surface,  and  the  gaze  of  the  female  was  bent  in  inquisitive, 
and,  perhaps,  timid  glances,  into  the  recesses  of  the  forest, 
when  a  loud  and  continued  howling  was  heard,  pealing 
under  the  long  arches  of  the  woods,  like  the  cry  of  a 
numerous  pack  of  hounds.  The  instant  the  sound  reached 
the  ears  of  the  gentleman,  he  cried  aloud  to  the  black, — 


14 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"Holdup,  Aggy;  there  is  old  Hector;  I  should  know 
his  bay  among  ten  thousand !  The  Leather-Stocking  has 
put  his  hounds  into  the  hills,  this  clear  day,  and  they  have 
started  their  game.  There  is  a  deer-track  a  few  rods 
ahead;  and  now,  Bess,  if  thou  canst  muster  courage  enough 
to  stand  fire,  I  will  give  thee  a  saddle  for  thy  Christmas 
dinner." 

The  black  drew  up,  with  a  cheerful  grin  upon  his  chilled 
features,  and  began  thrashing  his  arms  together,  in  order 
to  restore  the  circulation  to  his  fingers,  while  the  speaker 
stood  erect,  and,  throwing  aside  his  outer  covering,  stepped 
from  the  sleigh  upon  a  bank  of  snow,  which  sustained  his 
weight  without  yielding. 

In  a  few  moments  the  speaker  succeeded  in  extricating 
a  double-barreled  fowling-piece  from  among  a  multitude 
of  trunks  and  bandboxes.  After  throwing  aside  the  thick 
mittens  which  had  incased  his  hands,  that  now  appeared 
in  a  pair  of  leather  gloves  tipped  with  fur,  he  examined 
his  priming,  and  was  about  to  move  forward,  when  the 
light,  bounding  noise  of  an  animal  plunging  through  the 
woods  was  heard,  and  a  fine  buck  darted  into- the  path,  a 
short  distance  ahead  of  him.  'The  appearance" of  the  ani- 
mal was  sudden,  and  his  flight  inconceivably  rapid ;  but 
the  traveller  appeared  to  be  too  keen  a  sportsman  to  be 
disconcerted  by  either.  As  it  came  first  into  view  he  raised 
the  fowling-piece  to  his  shoulder,  and,  with  a  practiced 
eye  and  steady  hand,  drew  a  trigger.  The  deer  dashed 
forward  undaunted,  and  apparently  unhurt.  Without 
lowering  his  piece,  the  traveller  turned  its  muzzle  towards 
his  victim,  and  fired  again.  Neither  discharge,  however, 
seemed  to  have  taken  effect. 

The  whole  scene  had  passed  with  a  rapidity  that  con- 
fused the  female,  who  was  unconsciously  rejoicing  in  the 
escape  of  the  buck,  as  he  rather  darted  like  a  meteor,  than 
ran  across  the  road,  when  a  sharp,  quick  sound  struck  her 
ear,  quite  different  from  the  full,  round  reports  of  her 
father's  gun,  but  still  sufficiently  distinct  to  be  known  as 
the  concussion  produced  by  fire-arms.  At  the  same  instant 
that  she  heard  this  unexpected  report,  the  buck  sprang 
from  the  snow  to  a  great  height  in  the  air,  .:nd  directly  a 
second  discharge,  similar  in  sound  to  the  first,  followed, 
when  the  animal  came  to  the  earth,  falling  headlong,  and 
rolling  over  on  the  crust  with  ts  own  velocity,  A  loud 
shout  was  given  by  the  unseen  marksman,  and  a  couple  of 


V 


THE  PIONEERS.  \% 

men  instantly  appeared  from  behind  the  trunks  of  two  of 
the  pines,  where  they  had  evidently  placed  themselves  in 
expectation  of  the  passage  of  the  deer. 

"  Ha !  Natty,  had  I  known  you  were  in  ambush,  I  should 
not  have  fired,"  cried  the  traveller,  moving  towards  the 
spot  where  the  deer  lay,  near  to  which  he  was  followed  by 
the  delighted  black,  with  his  sleigh ;  "  but  the  sound  of 
old  Hector  was  too  exhilarating  to  be  quiet;  though  I 
hardly  think  I  struck  him  either." 

"  No,  no,  Judge,"  returned  the  hunter,  with  an  inward 
chuckle,  and  with  that  look  of  exultation  that  indicates  a 
consciousness  of  superior  skill ;  "  you  burnt  your  powder 
only  to  warm  your  nose  this  cold  evening.  Did  ye  think 
to  stop  a  full  grown  buck,  with  Hector  and  the  slut  open 
upon  him  within  sound,  with  that  pop-gun  in  your  hand  ? 
There's  plenty  of  pheasants  among  the  swamp ;  and  the 
snow-birds  are  flying  round  your  own  door,  where  you  may 
feed  them  with  crumbs,  and  shoot  them  at  pleasure,  any 
day;  but  if  you're  for  a  buck,  or  a  little  bear's  meat,  Judge, 
you'll  have  to  take  the  long  rifle,  with  a  greased  wadding, 
or  you'll  waste  more  powder  than  you'll  fill  stomachs,  I'm 
thinking." 

As  the  speaker  concluded,  he  drew  his  bare  hand  across 
the  bottom  of  his  nose,  and  again  opened  his  enormous 
mouth  with  a  kind  of  inward  laugh. 

"  The  gun  scatters  well,  Natty,  and  it  has  killed  a  deer 
before  now,"  said  the  traveller,  smiling  good-humoredly. 
"  One  barrel  was  charged  with  buck-shot ;  but  the  other 
was  loaded  for  birds  only.  Here  are  two  hurts;  one 
through  the  neck,  and  the  other  directly  through  the 
heart.  It  is  by  no  means  certain,  Natty,  but  I  gave  him 
one  of  the  two." 

"  Let  who  will  kill  him,"  said  the  hunter,  rather  surlily, 
"  I  suppose  the  creature  is  to  be  eaten."  So  saying,  he 
drew  a  large  knife  from  a  leathern  sheath,  which  was  stuck 
through  his  girdle  or  sash,  and  cut  the  throat  of  the  ani- 
mal. "  If  there  are  two  balls  through  the  deer,  I  would 
ask  if  there  weren't  two  rifles  fired ;  besides,  who  ever  saw 
such  a  ragged  hole  from  a  smooth-bore,  as  this  through 
the  neck  ?  And  you  will  own  yourself,  Judge,  that  the 
buck  fell  at  the  last  shot,  which  was  sent  from  a  truer  and 
a  younger  hand,  than  your'n  or  mine  either ;  but  for  my 
part,  although  I  am  a  poor  man,  I  can  live  without  the 
venison,  but  I  don't  love  to  give  up  my  lawful  dues  in  a 


r6 


THE  PIONEERS. 


free  country.  Though,  for  the  matter  of  that,  might  often 
makes  right  here,  as  well  as  in  the  old  country,  for  what  I 
can  see." 

An  air  of  sullen  dissatisfaction  pervaded  the  manner  of 
the  hunter  during  the  whole  of  this  speech ;  yet  he  thought 
it  prudent  to  utter  the  close  of  the  sentence  in  such  an 
undertone,  as  to  leave  nothing  audible  but  the  grumbling 
sounds  of  his  voice. 

"  Nay,  Natty,"  rejoined  the  traveller,  with  undisturbed 
good  humor,  "  it  is  for  the  honor  that  I  contend.  A  few 
dollars  will  pay  for  the  venison ;  but  what  will  requite  me 
for  the  lost  honor  of  a  buck's  tail  in  my  cap  ?  Think, 
Natty,  how  I  should  triumph  over  that  quizzing  dog,  Dick 
Jones,  who  has  failed  seven  times  already  this  season,  and 
has  only  brought  in  one  woodchuck  and  a  few  gray 
squirrels." 

"Ah !  the  game  is  becoming  hard  to  find,  indeed,  Judge, 
with  your  clearings  and  betterments,"  said  the  old  hunter, 
with  a  kind  of  compelled  resignation.  "The  time  has 
been,  when  I  have  shot  thirteen  deer,  without  counting 
the  fa'ans,  standing  in  the  door  of  my  own  hut!  and  for 
bear's  meat,  if  one  wanted  a  ham  or  so,  he  had  only  to 
watch  a-nights,  and  he  could  shoot  one  by  moonlight, 
through  the  cracks  of  the  logs;  no  fear  of  his  over-sleep- 
ing himself  neither,  for  the  howling  of  the  wolves  was 
sartin  to  keep  his  eyes  open.  There's  old  Hector,"  pat- 
ting with  affection  a  tall  hound,  of  black  and  yellow  spots, 
with  white  belly  and  legs,  that  just  then  came  in  on  the 
scent,  accompanied  by  the  slut  he  had  mentioned;  "see 
where  the  wolves  bit  his  throat,  the  night  I  druv  them 
from  the  venison  that  was  smoking  on  the  chimbly  top ; 
that  dog  is  more  to  be  trusted  than  many  a  Christian  man, 
for  he  never  torgets  a  friend,  and  loves  tne  nana  that 
gives  him  bTead."  ' 

Tliere  was  a  peculiarity  in  the  manner  of  the  hunter 
that  attracted  the  notice  of  the  young  female,  who  had 
been  a  close  and  interested  observer  of  his  appearance  and 
equipments,  from  the  moment  he  came  into  view.  He 
was  tall,  and  so  meagre  as  to  make  him  seem  above  even 
the  six  feet  that  he  actually  stood  in  his  stockings.  On 
his  head,  which  was  thinly  covered  with  lank,  sandy  hair, 
he  wore  a  cap  made  of  foxskin,  resembling  in  shape  the 
one  we  have  already  described,  although  much  inferior  in 
finish  and  ornaments.    His  face  was  skinny,  and  thin 


\  Y'M«4  wv    \>S  i\ 


THE  PIONEERS.  17 

almost  to  emaciation;  but  yet  it  bore  no  signs  of  disease; 
on  the  contrary,  it  had  every  indication  of  the  most  robust 
and  enduring  health.  The  cold  and  the  exposure  had, 
together,  given  it  a  color  of  uniform  red.  His  gray  eyes 
were  glancing  under  a  pair  of  shaggy  brows,  that  overhung 
them  in  long  hairs  of  gray  mingled  with  their  natural  hue; 
his  scraggy  neck  was  bare,  and  burnt  to  the  same  tint  with 
his  face ;  though  a  small  part  of  a  shirt  collar,  made  of  the 
country  check,  was  to  be  seen  above  the  over-dress  he 
wore.  A  kind  of  coat,  made  of  dressed  deerskin,  with  the 
hair  on,  was  belted  close  to  his  lank  body,  by  a  girdle  of 
colored  worsted.  On  his  feet  were  deerskin  moccasins,^ <AA^ 
ornamented  with  porcupines'  quills,  after  the  manner  of jyg 
the  Indians,  and  his  limbs  were  guarded  with  long  leggings  , 
of  the  same  material  as  the  moccasins,  which,  gartering  ^ 
over  the  knees  of  his  tarnished  buckskin  breeches,  had 
obtained  for  him,  among  the  settlers,  the  nickname  of 
feather-Stocking./  Over  his  left  shoulder  was  slung  a  belt 
o±"  deerskin,  Irorii  which  depended  an  enormous  ox-horn, 
so  thinly  scraped  as  to  discover  the  powder  it  contained. 
The  larger  end  was  fitted  ingeniously  and  securely  with  a 
wooden  bottom,  and  the  other  was  stopped  tight  by  a  little 
plug.  A  leathern  pouch  hung  before  him,  from  which,  as 
he  concluded  his  last  speech,  he  took  a  small  measure,  and, 
filling  it  accurately  with  powder,  he  commenced  reloading 
the  rifle,  which,  as  its  butt  rested  on  the  snow  before  him, 
reached  nearly  to  the  top  of  his  f oxskin  cap. 

The  traveller  had  been  closely  examining  the  wounds 
during  these  movements,  and  now,  without  heeding  the 
ill  humor  of  the  hunter's  manner,  he  exclaimed, — 

"  I  would  fain  establish  a  right,  Natty,  to  the  honor  of 
this  death;  and  surely  if  the  hit  in  the  neck  be  mine,  it  is. 
enough;  for  the  shot  in  the  heart  was  unnecessary — what 
we  call  an  act  of  supererogation,  Leather-Stocking." 

"You  may  call  it  by  what  Tarned  name  you  please, 
Judge,"  said  the  hunter,  throwing  his  rifle  across  his  left 
arm,  and  knocking  up  a  brass  lid  in  the  breech,  from  which 
.he  took  a  small  piece  of  greased  leather,  and  wrapping  a 
ball  in  it  forced  them  down  by  main  strength  on  the  pow- 
der, where  he  continued  to  pound  them  while  speaking. 
"  It's  far  easier  to  call  names  than  to  shoot  a  buck  on  the 
spring;  but  the  cretur  came  by  his  end  from  a  younger 
hand  than  either  your'n  or  mine,  as  I  said  before." 

"  What  s  ly  you,  my  friend,"  cried  the  traveller,  turning 


i8 


THE  PIONEERS. 


pleasantly  to  Natty's  companion;  "shall  we  toss  up  this 
dollar  for  the  honor,  and  you  keep  the  silver  if  you  lose  ? 
what  say  you,  friend  ?  " 

"  That  I  killed  the  deer,"  answered  the  young  man  with 
a  little  haughtiness,  as  he  leaned  on  another  rifle,  similar  to 
that  of  Natty. 

"Here  are  two  to  one,  indeed,"  replied  the  Judge,  with 
a  smile;  "I  am  outvoted — over-ruled,  as  we  say  on  the 
bench.  There  is  Aggy,  he  can't  vote,  being  a  slave ;  and 
Bess  is  a  minor;  so  I  must  even  make  the  best  of  it.  But 
you'll  sell  me  the  venison;  and  the  deuce  is  in  it,  but  I 
make  a  good  story  about  its  death." 

"  The  meat  is  none  of  mine  to  sell,"  said  Leather-Stock- 
ing, adopting  a  little  of  his  companion's  hauteur;  "for 
my  part  I  have  known  animals  travel  days  with  shots  in 
the  neck,  and  I'm  none  of  them  who'll  rob  a  man  of  his 
rightful  dues ! " 

"  You  are  tenacious  of  your  rights,  this  cold  evening, 
Natty,"  returned  the  Judge,  with  unconquerable  good 
nature ;  "  but  what  say  you,  young  man ;  will  three  dollars 
pay  you  for  the  buck  ?  " 

"  First  let  us  determine  the  question  of  right  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  us  both,"  said  the  youth,  firmly  but  respectfully, 
and  with  a  pronunciation  and  language  vastly  superior  to 
his  appearance;  "with  how  many  shot  did  you  load  your 
gun  ?  " 

"  With  five,  sir,"  said  the  Judge,  a  little  struck  with  the 
other's  maimer;  "are  they  not  enough  to  slay  a  buck  like 
this?" 

"  One  would  do  it;  but,"  moving  to  the  tree  from  behind 
which  he  had  appeared,  "  you  know,  sir,  you  fired  in  this 
direction ;  here  are  four  of  the  bullets  in  the  tree." 

The  Judge  examined  the  fresh  marks  in  the  bark  of  the 
pine,  and  shaking  his  head,  said,  with  a  laugh, — 

"You  are  making  out  the  case  against  yourself,  my 
young  advocate ;  where  is  the  fifth  ?  " 

"  Here!  "  said  the  youth,  throwing  aside  the  rough  over- 
coat that  he  wore,  and  exhibiting  a  hole  in  his  under  gar- 
ment, through  which  large  drops  of  blood  were  oozing. 

"Good  God!"  exclaimed  the  Judge  with  horror;  "have 
I  been  trifling  here  about  an  empty  distinction  and  a  fel- 
low creature  suffering  from  my  hands  without  a  murmur  ? 
But  hasten— quick — get  into  my  sleigh — it  is  but  a  mile  to 
the  village,  where  surgical  aid  can  be  obtained;  all  shall 


THE  PIONEERS. 


*9 


be  done  at  my  expense,  and  thou  shalt  live  with  me  until 
thy  wound  is  healed,  aye,  and  forever  afterwards." 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  good  intention,  but  I  must  de- 
cline your  offer.  I  have  a  friend  who  would  be  uneasy 
were  he  to  hear  that  I  am  hurt  and  away  from  him.  The 
injury  is  bat  slight,  and  the  bullet  has  missed  the  bones; 
but  I  believe,  sir,  you  will  now  admit  my  title  to  the  veni- 
son." 

"Admit  it ! "  repeated  the  agitated  Judge :  "  I  here  give 
thee  a  right  to  shoot  deer,  or  bears,  or  anything  thou 
pleasest  in  my  woods,  forever.  Leather-Stocking  is  the 
only  other  man  that  I  have  granted  the  same  privilege  to ; 
and  the  time  is  coming  when  it  will  be  of  value.  But  I 
buy  your  deer;  here,  this  bill  will  pay  thee,  both  for  thy 
shot  and  my  own." 

The  old  hunter  gathered  his  tall  person  up  into  an  air 
of  pride,  during  this  dialogue,  but  he  waited  until  the 
other  had  done  speaking. 

"  There's  them  living  who  say  that  Nathaniel  Bumppo's 
right  to  shoot  on  these  hills  is  of  older  date  than  Marma- 
duke  Temple's  right  to  forbid  him,"  he  said.  "But  if 
there's  a  law  about  it  at  all — though  who  ever  heard  of  a 
law  that  a  man  shouldn't  kill  deer  where  he  pleased ! — but 
if  there  is  a  law  at  all,  it  should  be  to  keep  people  from 
the  use  of  smooth-bores.  A  body  never  knows  where  his 
lead  will  fly,  when  he  pulls  the  trigger  of  one  of  them  un- 
certain fire-arms." 

Without  attending  to  the  soliloquy  of  Natty,  the  youth 
bowed  his  head  silently  to  the  offer  of  the  bank-note,  and 
replied : — 

"Excuse  me;  I  have  need  of  the  venison." 

"But  this  will  buy  you  many  deer,"  said  the  Judge; 
"  take  it,  I  entreat  you,"  and  lowering  his  voice  to  a  whis- 
per, he  added,  "  it  is  for  a  hundred  dollars." 

For  an  instant  only,  the  youth  seemed  to  hesitate,  and 
then,  blushing  even  through  the  high  color  that  the  cold 
had  given  to  his  cheeks,  as  if  with  inward  shame  at  his 
own  weakness,  he  again  declined  the  offer. 

During  this  scene  the  female  arose,  and,  regardless  of 
the  cold  air,  she  threw  back  the  hood  which  concealed  her 
features,  and  now  spoke,  with  great  earnestness. 

"Surely,  surely,  young  man — sir — you  would  not  pain 
my  father  so  much,  as  to  have  him  think  that  he  leaves  a 
fellow-creature  in  this  wilderness,  whom  his  own  hand  has 


20 


THE  PIONEERS. 


injured.  I  entreat  you  will  go  with  us,  and  receive  medi- 
cal aid." 

Whether  his  wound  became  more  painful,  or  there  was 
something  irresistible  in  the  voice  and  manner  of  the  fair 
pleader  for  her  father's  feelings,  we  know  not;  but  the 
distance  of  the  young  man's  manner  was  sensibly  softened 
by  this  appeal,  and  he  stood  in  apparent  doubt,  as  if  re- 
luctant to  comply  with,  and  yet  unwilling  to  refuse  her 
request.  The  Judge,  for  such,  being  his  office,  must  in 
future  be  his  title,  watched,  with  no  little  interest,  the 
display  of  this  singular  contention  in  the  feelings  of  the 
youth;  and  advancing,  kindly  took  his  hand,  and  as  he 
pulled  him  gently  towards  the  sleigh,  urged  him  to  enter  it. 

"  There  is  no  human  aid  nearer  than  Templeton,"  he 
said,  "  and  the  hut  of  Natty  is  full  three  miles  from  this ; 
come,  come,  my  young  friend,  go  with  us,  and  let  the  new 
doctor  look  to  this  shoulder  of  thine.  Here  is  Natty  will 
take  the  tidings  of  thy  welfare  to  thy  friend ;  and  shouldst 
thou  require  it,  thou  shalt  return  home  in  the  morning." 

The  young  man  succeeded  in  extricating  his  hand  from 
the  warm  grasp  of  the  Judge,  but  he  continued  to  gaze  on 
the  face  of  the  female,  who,  regardless  of  the  cold,  was  still 
standing  with  her  fine  features  exposed,  which  expressed 
feelings  that  eloquently  seconded  the  request  of  her  father. 
Leather-Stocking  stood,  in  the  meantime,  leaning  upon 
his  long  rifle,  with  his  head  turned  a  little  to  one  side,  as 
if  engaged  in  sagacious  musing;  when,  having  apparently 
satisfied  his  doubts,  by  revolving  the  subject  in  his  mind, 
he  broke  silence. 

"  It  may  be  best  to  go,  lad,  after  all ;  for  if  the  shot 
hangs  under  the  skin,  my  hand  is  getting  too  old  to  be 
cutting  into  human  flesh,  as  I  once  used  to.  Though  some 
thirty  years  agone,  in  the  old  war,  when  I  was  out  under 
Sir  William,  I  travelled  seventy  miles  alone  in  the  howling 
wilderness,  with  a  rifle  bullet  in  my  thigh,  and  then  cut  it 
out  with  my  own  jack-knife.  Old  Indian  John  knows  the 
time  well.  I  met  him  with  a  party  of  the  Delawares,  on 
the  trail  of  the  Iroquois,  who  had  been  down  and  taken 
five  scalps  on  the  Schoharie.  But  I  made  a  mark  on  the 
red-skin  that  I'll  warrant  he  carried  to  his  grave !  I  took 
him  on  his  posteerum,  saving  the  lady's  presence,  as  he  got 
up  from  the  ambushment,  and  rattled  three  buck-shot  into 
his  naked  hide,  so  close,  that  you  might  have  Jaid  a  broad 
joe  upon  them  all  " — here  Natty  stretched  out  his  long 


THE  PIONEERS. 


neck,  and  straightened  his  body,  as  he  opened  his  mouth, 
which  exposed  a  single  tusk  of  yellow  bone,  while  his  eyes, 
his  face,  even  his  whole  frame  seemed  to  laugh,  although 
no  sound  was  emitted,  except  a  kind  of  thick  hissing,  us 
he  inhaled  his  breath  in  quavers.  "I  had  lost  my  bul hit- 
mould  in  crossing  the  Oneida  outlet,  and  had  to  make 
shift  with  the  buck-shot :  but  the  rifle  was  true,  and  didn't 
scatter  like  your  two-legged  thing  there,  Judge,  which 
don't  do* I  find,  to  hunt  in  company  with." 

Natty 's  apology  to  the  delicacy  of  the  young  lady  was  un- 
necessary, for,  while  he  was  speaking,  she  was  too  much 
employed  in  helping  her  father  to  remove  certain  articles 
of  baggage  to  hear  him.  Unable  to  resist  the  kind  urgency 
of  the  travellers  any  longer,  the  youth,  though  still  with 
an  unaccountable  reluctance,  suffered  himself  to  be  per- 
suaded to  enter  the  sleigh.  The  black,  with  the  aid  of  his 
master,  threw  the  buck  across  the  baggage,  and  entering 
the  vehicle  themselves,  the  Judge  invited  the  hunter  to  do 
so  likewise. 

"  No,  no,"  said  the  old  man,  shaking  his  head;  " I  have 
work  to  do  at  home  this  Christmas  Eve ;  drive  on  with  the 
boy,  and  let  your  doctor  look  to  the  shoulder ;  though  if 
he  will  only  cut  out  the  shot,  I  have  yarbs  that  will  heal 
the  wound'  quicker  than  all  his  foreign  'intments."  He 
turned,  and  was  about  to  move  off,  when,  suddenly  recol- 
lecting himself,  he  again  faced  the  party,  and  added,  "  If 
you  see  anything  of  Indian  John,  about  the  foot  of  the 
lake,  you  had  better  take  him  with  you,  and  let  him  lend 
the  doctor  a  hand;  for  old  as  he  is,  he  is  curious  at  cuts 
and  bruises,  and  it's  likelier  than  not  he'll  be  in  with 
brooms  to  sweep  your  Christmas  h'arths." 

"  Stop,  stop,"  cried  the  youth,  catching  the  arm  of  the 
black  as  he  prepared  to  urge  his  horses  forward;  "Natty, 
you  need  say  nothing  of  the  shot,  nor  of  where  I  am  going; 
remember,  Natty,  as  you  love  me." 

"Trust  old  Leather-Stocking,"  returned  the  hunter  sig- 
nificantly; "he  hasn't  lived  fifty  years  in  the  wilderness 
and  not  larnt  from  the  savages  how  to  hold  his  tongue; 
trust  to  me  lad;  and  remember  old  Indian  John." 

"And,  Natty,"  said  the  youth  eagerly,  still  holding  the 
black  by  the  arm,  "  I  will  just  get  the  shot  extracted,  and 
bring  you  up  to-night  a  quarter  of  the  buck,  for  the 
Christmas  dinner." 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  hunter,  who  held  up  his 


THE  PIONEERS. 


finger  with  an  expressive  gesture  for  silence.  He  then 
moved  softly  along  the  margin  of  the  road,  keeping  his 
eyes  steadfastly  fixed  on  the  branches  of  a  pine.  When 
he  had  obtained  such  a  position  as  he  wished,  he  stopped, 
and  cocking  his  rifle,  threw  one  leg  far  behind  him,  and 
stretching  his  left  arm  to  its  utmost  extent  along  the  barrel 
of  his  piece,  he  began  slowly  to  raise  its  muzzle  in  a  line 
with  the  straight  trunk  of  toe  tree.  The  eyes  of  the  group 
in  the  sleigh  naturally  preceded  the  movement  of  the  rifle, 
and  they  soon  discovered  the  object  of  Natty's  aim.  On  a 
small  dead  branch  of  the  pine,  which,  at  the  distance  of 
seventy  feet  from  the  ground,  shot  out  horizontally,  im- 
mediately beneath  the  living  members  of  the  tree,  sat  a 
bird,  that  in  the  vulgar  language  of  the  country  was  in- 
discriminately called  a  pheasant  or  a  partridge.  In  size, 
it  was  but  little  smaller  than  a  common  barn-yard  fowl. 
The  baying  of  the  dogs,  and  the  conversation  that  had 
assed  near  the  root  of  the  tree  on  which  it  was  perched, 
ad  alarmed  the  bird,  which  was  now  drawn  up  near  the 
body  of  the  pine,  with  a  head  and  neck  so  erect,  as  to  form 
nearly  a  straight  line  with  its  legs.  As  soon  as  the  rifle 
bore  on  the  victim,  Natty  drew  his  trigger,  and  the  par- 
tridge fell  from  its  height  with  a  force  that  buried  it  in 
.ihe  smow.  " —  > 

"  Lie  down,  you  old  villain,"  exclaimed  Leather-Stock- 
ing, shaking  his  ramrod  at  Hector  as  he  bounded  towards 
the  foot  of  the  tree,  "lie  down,  I  say/'  The  dog  obeyed, 
and  Natty  proceeded  with  great  rapidity*,  though  with  the 
nicest  accuracy,  to  reload  his  piece.  When  this  was  ended, 
he  took  up  his  game,  and  showing  it  to  the  party  without 
a  head,  he  cried,  "  Here  is  a  tit-bit  for  an  old  man's  Christ- 
mas ;  never  mind  the  venison,  boy,  and  remember  Indian 
John;  his  yarbs  are  better  than  all  foreign  'intments. 
Here,  Judge,"  holding  up  the  bird  again,  "do  you  think  a 
smooth  bore  would  pick  game  off  their  roost,  and  not  ruffle 
a  feather  ?  "  The  old  man  gave  another  of  his  remarkable 
laughs,  which  partook  so  largely  of  exultation,  mirth,  and 
irony,  and  shaking  his  head,  he  turned,  with  his  rifle  at  a 
trail,  and  moved  into  the  forest  with  steps  that  were  be- 
tween a  walk  and  a  trot.  At  each  movement  he  made,  his 
body  lowered  several  inches,  his  knees  yielding  with  an 
inclination  inwards;  but  as  the  sleigh  turned  at  a  bend  in 
the  road,  the  youth  cast  his  eyes  in  quest  of  his  old  com- 
panion, and  he  saw  that  he  was  already  nearly  concealed 


THE  PIONEERS. 


by  the  trunks  of  the  trees,  while  his  dogs  were  following 
quietly  in  his  footsteps,  occasionally  scenting  the  deer 
track,  that  they  seemed  to  know  instinctively  was  now  of 
no  further  use  to  them.  Another  jerk  was  given  to  the 
sleigh,  and  Leather-Stocking  was  hid  from  view. 


CHAPTER  II. 

All  places  that  the  eye  of  Heaven  visits 

Are  to  a  wise  man  ports  and  happy  havens. 

Think  not  the  king  did  banish  thee  ; 

But  thou  the  king.  Richard  II. 

An  ancestor  of  Marmaduke  Temple  had,  about  one 
hundred  and  twenty  years  before  the  commencement  of 
our  tale,  come  to  the  colony  of  Pennsylvania,  a  friend  and 
co-religionist  of  its  great  patron.  Old  Marmaduke,  for 
this  formidable  prenomen  was  a  kind  of  appellative  to  the 
race,  brought  with  him,  to  that  asylum  of  the  persecuted, 
an  abundance  of  the  good  things  of  this  life.  He  became 
the  master  of  many  thousands  of  acres  of  uninhabited 
territory,  and  the  supporter  of  many  a  score  of  dependents. 
He  lived  greatly  respected  for  his  piety,  and  not  a  little 
distinguished  as  a  sectary:  was  intrusted  by  his  associates 
with  many  important  political  stations;  and  died  just  in 
time  to  escape  the  knowledge  of  his  own  poverty.  It  was 
his  lot  to  share  the  fortune  of  most  of  those  who  brought 
wealth  with  them  into  the  new  settlements  of  the  middle 
colonies. 

The  consequence  of  an  emigrant  into  these  provinces 
was  generally  to  be  ascertained  by  the  number  of  his  white 
servants  or  dependents,  and  the  nature  of  the  public 
situations  that  he  held.  Taking  this  rule  as  a  guide,  the 
ancestor  of  our  Judge  must  have  been  a  man  of  no  little 
note. 

It  is,  however,  a  subject  of  curious  inquiry  at  the  present 
day,  to  look  into  the  brief  records  of  that  early  period,  and 
observe  how  regular,  and  with  few  exceptions  how  inevita- 
ble, were  the  gradations,  on  the  one  hand,  of  the  masters 
to  poverty,  and  on  the  other,  of  their  servants  to  wealth. 
Accustomed  to  ease,  and  unequal  to  the  struggles  incident 
to  an  infant  society,  the  affluent  emigrant  was  barely  en- 
abled to  maintain  his  own  rank,  by  the  weight  of  his  per- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


sonal  superiority  and  acquirements ;  but  the  moment  that 
his  head  was  laid  in  the  grave,  his  indolent  and  compara- 
tively uneducated  offspring  were  compelled  to  yield  pre- 
cedency to  the  more  active  energies  of  a  class  whose  ex- 
ertions had  been  stimulated  by  necessity.  This  is  a  very 
common  course  of  things,  even  in  the  present  state  of  the 
Union ;  but  it  was  peculiarly  the  fortunes  of  the  two  ex- 
tremes of  society,  in  the  peaceful  and  unenterprising  col- 
onies of  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey. 

The  posterity  of  Marmaauke  did  not  escape  the  common 
lot  of  those  who  depend  rather  on  their  hereditary  pos- 
sessions than  on  their  own  powers;  and  in  the  third  gen- 
eration they  had  descended  to  a  point,  below  which,  in 
this  happy  country,  it  is  barely  possible  for  honesty,  in- 
tellect, and  sobriety  to  fall.  The  same  pride  of  family 
that  had,  by  its  self-satisfied  indolence,  conduced  to  aid 
their  fall,  now  became  a  principle  to  stimulate  them  to 
endeavor  to  rise  again.  The  feeling,  from  being  morbid, 
was  changed  to  a  healthful  and  active  desire  to  emulate 
the  character,  the  condition,  and,  peradventure,  the  wealth 
.of  their  ancestors  also.  It  was  the  father  of  our  new  ac- 
quaintance, the  Judge,  who  first  began  to  reascend  in  the 
scale  of  society;  and  in  this  undertaking  he  was  not  a  little 
assisted  by  a  marriage,  which  aided  in  furnishing  the 
means  of  educating  his  only  son  in  a  rather  better  manner 
than  the  low  state  of  the  common  schools  in  Pennsylvania 
could  promise ;  or  than  had  been  the  practice  in  the  family, 
for  the  two  or  three  preceding  generations. 

At  the  school  where  the  reviving  prosperity  of  his  father 
was  enabled  to  maintain  him,  young  Marmaduke  formed 
an  intimacy  with  a  youth  whose  years  were  about  equal  to 
his  own.  This  was  a  fortunate  connection  for  our  Judge, 
and  paved  the  way  to  most  of  his  future  elevation  in  life. 

There  was  not  only  great  wealth,  but  high  court  interest, 
among  the  connections  of  Edward  Effingham.  They  were 
one  of  the  few  families  then  resident  in  the  colonies,  who 
thought  it  a  degradation  to  its  members  to  descend  to  the 
.pursuit  of  commerce;  and  who  never  emerged  from  the 
privacy  of  domestic  life,  unless  to  preside  in  the  councils 
of  the  colony,  or  to  bear  arms  in  her  defense.  The  latter 
had,  from  youth,  been  the  only  employment  of  Edward's 
father.  Military  rank  under  the  crown  of  Great  Britain 
was  attained  with  much  longer  probation,  and  by  much 
more  toilsome  services,  sixty  years  ago,  than  at  the  present 


THE  PIONEERS. 


time.  Years  were  passed  without  murmuring,  in  the  sub- 
ordinate grades  of  the  service;  and  those  soldiers  who 
were  stationed  in  the  colonies  felt,  when  they  obtained  the 
command  of  a  company,  that  they  were  entitled  to  receive 
the  greatest  deference  from  the  peaceful  occupants  of  the 
soil.  Any  one  of  our  readers  who  has  occasion  to  cross 
the  Niagara,  may  easily  observe  not  only  the  self-impor- 
tance, but  the  real  estimation  enjoyed  by  the  humblest 
representative  of  the  crown,  even  in  that  polar  region  of 
royal  sunshine.  Such,  and  at  no  very  distant  period,  was 
the  respect  paid  to  the  military  in  these  States,  where 
now,  happily,  no  symbol  of  war  is  ever  seen,  unless  at  the 
free  and  fearless  voice  of  their  people.  When,  therefore, 
the  father  of  Marmaduke's  friend,  after  forty  years'  service, 
retired  with  the  rank  of  Major,  maintaining  in  his  domes- 
tic establishment  a  comparative  splendor,  he  became  a  man 
of  the  first  consideration  in  his  native  colony,  which  was 
that  of  New  York.  He  had  served  with  fidelity  and  cour- 
age, and  having  been,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
provinces,  intrusted  with  commands  much  superior  to 
those  to  which  he  was  entitled  by  rank,  with  reputation 
also.  When  Major  Effingham  yielded  to  the  claims  of 
age,  he  retired  with  dignity,  refusing  his  half -pay  or  any 
other  compensation  for  services  that  he  felt  he  could  no 
longer  perform. 

The  ministry  proffered  various  civil  offices,  which  yielded 
not  only  honor  but  profit ;  but  he  declined  them  all,  with 
the  chivalrous  independence  and  loyalty  that  had  marked 
his  character  through  life.  The  veteran  soon  caused  this 
act  of  patriotic  disinterestedness  to  be  followed  by  another 
of  private  munificence,  that,  however  little  it  accorded 
with  prudence,  was  in  perfect  conformity  with  the  simple 
integrity  of  his  own  views. 

The  friend  of  Marmaduke  was  his  only  child;  and  to 
this  son,  on  his  marriage  with  a  lady  to  whom  the  father 
was  particularly  partial,  the  Major  gave  a  complete  con- 
veyance of  his  whole  estate,  consisting  of  moneys  in  the 
funds,  a  town  and  country  residence,  sundry  valuable  farms 
in  the  old  parts  of  the  colony,  and  large  tracts  of  wild  land 
in  the  new;  in  this  manner  throwing  himself  upon  the 
filial  piety  of  his  child  ±or  his  own  future  maintenance. 
Major  Effingham,  in  declining  the  liberal  offers  of  the 
British  ministry,  had  subjected  himself  to  the  suspicion 
of  having  attained  his  dotage,  by  all  those  who  throng  the 


26 


THE  PIONEERS. 


avenues  to  court  patronage,  even  in  the  remotest  corners  of 
that  vast  empire;  but,  when  he  thus  voluntarily  stripped 
himself  of  his  great  personal  wealth,  the  remainder  of  the 
community  seemed  instinctively  to  adopt  the  conclusion 
also,  that  he  had  reached  a  second  childhood.  This  may 
explain  the  fact  of  his  importance  rapidly  declining;  and, 
if  privacy  was  his  object,  the  veteran  had  soon  a  free  in- 
dulgence of  his  wishes.  Whatever  views  the  world  might 
entertain  of  this  act  of  the  Major,  to  himself  and  to  his 
child  it  seemed  no  more  than  a  natural  gift  by  a  father,  of 
those  immunities  which  he  could  no  longer  enjoy  or  im- 
prove, to  a  son,  who  was  formed,  both  by  nature  and  edu- 
cation, to  do  both.  The  younger  Effingham  did  not  object 
to  the  amount  of  the  donation;  for  he  felt  that  while  his 
parent  reserved  a  moral  control  over  his  actions,  he  was 
relieving  himself  from  a  fatiguing  burden :  such  indeed, 
was  the  confidence  existing  between  them,  that  to  neither 
did  it  seem  anything  more  than  removing  money  from  one 
pocket  to  another. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  the  young  man,  on  coming  into 
possession  of  his  wealth,  was  to  seek  his  early  friend,  with 
a  view  to  offer  any  assistance  that  it  was  now  in  his  power 
to  bestow. 

The  death  of  Marmaduke's  father,  and  the  consequent 
division  of  his  small  estate,  rendered  such  an  offer  ex- 
tremely acceptable  to  the  young  Pennsylvanian :  he  felt 
his  own  powers,  and  saw,  not  only  the  excellences,  but  the 
foibles,  in  the  character  of  his  friend.  Effingham  was  by 
nature  indolent,  confiding,  and  at  times  impetuous  and 
indiscreet;  but  Marmaduke  was  uniformly  equable,  pene- 
trating, and  full  of  activity  and  enterprise.  To  the  latter, 
therefore,  the  assistance,  or  rather  connection,  that  was 
proffered  to  him,  seemed  to  produce  a  mutual  advantage. 
It  was  cheerfully  accepted,  and  the  arrangement  of  its 
conditions  was  easily  completed.  A  mercantile  house  was 
established  in  the  metropolis  of  Pennsylvania,  with  the 
avails  of  Mr.  Effingham's  personal  property;  all,  or  nearly 
all,  of  which  was  put  into  the  possession  of  Temple,  who 
was  the  only  ostensible  proprietor  in  the  concern,  while,  in 
secret,  the  other  was  entitled  to  an  equal  participation  in 
the  profits.  This  connection  was  thus  Kept  private  for  two 
reasons ;  one  of  which,  in  the  freedom  of  their  intercourse, 
was  frankly  avowed  to  Marmaduke,  while  the  other  con- 
tinued profoundly  hid  in  the  bosom  of  his  friend.  The 


THE  PIONEERS, 


last  was  nothing  more  than  pride.  To  the  descendant  of 
a  lino  of  soldiers,  commerce,  even  in  that  indirect  manner, 
seemed  a  degrading  pursuit;  but  an  insuperable  obstacle 
to  the  disclosure  existed  in  the  prejudices  of  his  father. 

We  have  already  said  that  Major  Effingham  had  served 
as  a  soldier  with  reputation.  On  one  occasion,  while  in 
command  on  the  western  frontier  of  Pennsylvania,  against 
a  league  of  the  French  and  Indians,  not  onty  his  glory,  but 
the  safety  of  himself  and  his  troops  were  jeoparded,  by  the 
peaceful  policy  of  that  colony.  To  the  soldier,  this  was 
an  unpardonable  offense.  He  was  fighting  in  their  de- 
fense; he  knew  that  the  mild  principles  of  this  little  nation 
of  practical  Christians  would  be  disregarded  by  their  subtle 
and  malignant  enemies;  and  he  felt  the  injury  the  more 
deeply,  because  he  saw  that  the  avowed  object  of  the  col- 
onists, in  withholding  their  succors,  would  only  have  a 
tendency  to  expose  his  command,  without  preserving  the 
peace.  _  The  soldier  succeeded,  after  a  desperate  conflict, 
in  extricating  himself,  with  a  handful  of  his  men,  from 
their  murderous  enemy;  but  he  never  forgave  the  people 
who  had  exposed  him  to  a  danger  which  they  left  him  to 
combat  alone.  It  was  in  vain  to  tell  him  that  they  had 
no  agency  in  his  being  placed  on  their  frontier  at  all;  it 
was  evidently  for  their  benefit  that  he  had  been  so  placed, 
and  it  was  their  "  religious  duty/'  so  the  Major  always  ex- 
pressed it,  "  it  was  their  religious  duty  to  have  supported 
him." 

At  no  time  was  the  old  soldier  an  admirer  of  the  peace- 
ful disciples  of  Fox.  Their  disciplined  habits,  both  of 
mind  and  body,  had  endowed  them  with  great  physical 
perfection;  and  the  eye  of  the  veteran  was  apt  to  scan  the 
fair  proportions  and  athletic  frames  of  the  colonists,  with 
a  look  that  seemed  to  utter  volumes  of -contempt  for  their 
moral  imbecility.  He  was  also  a  little  addicted  to  the  ex- 
pression of  a  belief,  that,  where  there  was  so  great  an  ob- 
servance of  the  externals  of  religion,  there  could  not  be 
much  of  the  substance.  It  is  not  our  task  to  explain  what 
is,  or  what  ought  to  be,  the  substance  of  Christianity,  but 
merely  to  record  in  this  place  the  opinions  of  Major 
Effingham. 

Knowing  the  sentiments  of  the  father  in  relation  to  this 
people,  it  was  no  wonder  that  the  son  hesitated  to  avow 
his  connection  with,  nay,  even  his  dependence  on  the  in- 
tegrity of  a  Quaker. 


28 


THE  PIONEERS. 


It  has  been  said  that  Marmaduke  deduced  his  origin 
from  the  contemporaries  and  friends  of  Penn.  His  father 
had  married  without  the  pale  of  the  church  to  which  he 
belonged,  and  had,  in  this  manner,  forfeited  some  of  the 
privileges  of  his  offspring.  Still,  as  young  Marmaduke 
was  educated  in  a  colony  and  society  where  even  the  ordi- 
nary intercourse  between  friends  was  tinctured  with  the 
aspect  of  this  mild  religion,  his  habits  and  language  were 
somewhat  marked  by  its  peculiarities.  His  own  marriage 
at  a  future  day  with  a  lady  without,  not  only  the  pale,  but 
the  influence  of  this  sect  of  religionists,  had  a  tendency,  it 
is  true,  to  weaken  his  early  impressions;  still  he  retained 
them  in  some  degree  to  the  hour  of  his  death,  and  was 
observed  uniformly,  when  much  interested  or  agitated,  to 
speak  in  the  language  of  his  youth.  But  this  is  anticipa- 
ting our  tale. 

When  Marmaduke  first  became  the  partner  of  young 
Effingham,  he  was  quite  the  Quaker  in  externals;  and  it 
was  too  dangerous  an  experiment  for  the  son  to  think  of 
encountering  the  prejudices  of  the  father  on  this  subject. 
The  connection,  therefore,  remained  a  profound  secret  to 
all  but  those  who  were  interested  in  it. 

For  a  few  years,  Marmaduke  directed  the  commercial 
operations  of  his  house  with  a  prudence  and  sagacity  that 
afforded  rich  returns.  He  married  the  lady  we  have  men- 
tioned, who  was  the  mother  of  Elizabeth,  and  the  visits  of 
his  friend  were  becoming  more  frequent.  There  was  a 
speedy  prospect  of  removing  the  veil  from  their  inter- 
course, as  its  advantages  became  each  hour  more  apparent 
to  Mr.  Effingham,  when  the  troubles  that  preceded  the  war 
of  the  Revolution  extended  themselves  to  an  alarming 
degree. 

Educated  in  the  most  dependent  loyalty,  Mr.  Effingham 
had,  from  the  commencement  of  the  disputes  between  the 
colonists  and  the  crown,  warmly  maintained  what  he  be- 
lieved to  be  the  just  prerogatives  of  his  prince ;  while,  on 
the  other  hand,  the  clear  head  and  independent  mind  of 
Temple  had  induced  him  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  people. 
Both  might  have  been  influenced  by  early  impressions; 
for,  if  the  son  of  the  loyal  and  gallant  soldier  bowed  in 
implicit  obedience  to  the  will  of  his  sovereign,  the  de- 
scendant of  the  persecuted  follower  of  Penn  looked  back, 
with  a  little  bitterness,  to  the  unmerited  wrongs  that  had 
been  heaped  upon  hi-'  ancestors. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


This  difference  in  opinion  had  long  been  a  subject  of 
amicable  dispute  between  them;  but, 4at fcerly>  the  contest 
was  getting  to  be  too  important  to  admit  of  trivial  dis- 
cussions on  the  part  of  Marmaduke,  whose  acute  discern- 
ment was  already  catching  faint  glimmerings  of  the 
important  events  that  were  in  embryo.  The  sparks  of 
dissension  soon  kindled  into  a  blaze  ;  and  the  colonies,  or 
rather,  as  they  quickly  declared  themselves,  the  States,  be- 
came a  scene  of  strife  and  bloodshed  for  years. 

A  short  time  before  the  battle  of  Lexington,  Mr.  Effing- 
ham, already  a  widower,  transmitted  to  Marmaduke,  for 
safe-keeping,  all  his  valuable  effects  and  papers ;  and  left 
the  colony  without  his  father.  The  war  had,  however, 
scarcely  commenced  in  earnest,  when  he  reappeared  in 
New  York,  wearing  the  livery  of  his  king;  and,  in  a  short 
time,  he  took  the  field  at  the  head  of  a  provincial  corps. 
In  the  meantime,  Marmaduke  had  completely  committed 
himself  in  the  cause,  as  it  was  then  called,  of  the  rebellion. 
Of  course,  all  intercourse  between  the  friends  ceased :  on  - 
the  part  of  Colonel  Effingham  it  was  unsought,  and  on 
that  of  Marmaduke  there  was  a  cautious  reserve.  It  soon 
became  necessary  for  the  latter  to  abandon  the  capital  of 
Philadelphia;  but  he  had  taken  the  precaution  to  remove 
the  whole  of  his  effects  beyond  the  reach  of  the  royal 
forces,  including  the  papers  of  his  friend  also.  There  he 
continued  serving  his  country  during  the  struggle,  in 
various  civil  capacities,  and  always  with  dignity  and  use- 
fulness. While,  however,  he  discharged  his  functions  with 
credit  and  fidelity,  Marmaduke  never  seemed  to  lose  sight 
of  his  own  interests ;  for,  when  the  estates  of  the  adherents 
of  the  crown  fell  under  the  hammer,  by  the  acts  of  con- 
fiscation, he  appeared  in  New  York,  and  became  the  pur- 
chaser of  extensive  possessions  at  comparatively  low  prices. 

It  is  true  that  Marmaduke,  by  thus  purchasing  estates 
that  had  been  wrested  by  violence  from  others,  rendered 
himself  obnoxious  to  the  censures  of  that  sect  which,  at 
the  same  time  that  it  discards  its  children  from  a  full 
participation  in  the  family  union,  seems  ever  unwilling  to 
abandon  them  entirely  to  the  world.  But  either  his  suc- 
cess, or  the  frequency  of  the  transgression  in  others,  soon 
wiped  off  this  slight  stain  from  his  character;  and,  al- 
though there  were  a  few  who,  dissatisfied  with  their  own 
fortunes,  or  conscious  of  their  own  demerits,  would  make 
dark  hints  concerning  the  sudden  prosperity  of  the  un- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


portioned  Quaker,  yet  his  services,  and  possibly  his  wealth, 
soon  drove  the  recollection  of  these  vague  conjectures  from 
men's  minds. 

When  the  war  ended,  and  the  independence  of  the 
States  was  acknowledged,  Mr.  Temple  turned  his  atten- 
tion from  the  pursuit  of  commerce,  which  was  then  fluc- 
tuating and  uncertain,  to  the  settlement  of  those  tracts  of 
land  which  he  had  purchased.  Aided  by  a  good  deal  of 
money,  and  directed  by  the  suggestions  of  a  strong  and 
practical  reason,  his  enterprise  throve  to  a  degree  that  the 
climate  and  rugged  face  of  the  country  which  he  selected 
would  seem  to  forbid.  His  property  increased  in  a  ten- 
fold ratio,  and  he  was  already  ranked  among  the  most 
wealthy  and  important  of  his  countrymen.  To  inherit 
this  wealth  he  had  but  one  child,  the  daughter  whom  we 
have  introduced  to  the  reader,  and  whom  he  was  now  con- 
veying from  school  to  preside  over  a  household  that  had 
too  long  wanted  a  mistress. 

When  the  district  in  which  his  estates  lay  had  become 
sufficiently  populous  to  be  set  off  as  a  county,  Mr.  Temple 
had,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  new  settlements,  been 
selected  to  fill  its  highest  judicial  station.  This  might 
make  a  Templar  smile ;  but,  in  addition  to  the  apology  of 
necessity,  there  is  ever  a  dignity  in  talents  and  experience 
that  is  commonly  sufficient,  in  any  station,  for  the  pro- 
tection of  its  possessor;  and  Marmaduke,  more  fortunate 
in  his  native  clearness  of  mind  than  the  judge  of  King 
Charles,  not  only  decided  right,  but  was  generally  able  to 
give  a  very  good  reason  for  it.  At  all  events,  such  was 
the  universal  practice  of  the  country  and  the  times;  and 
Judge  Temple,  so  far  from  ranking  among  the  lowest  of 
his  judicial  contemporaries  in  the  courts  of  the  new  coun- 
ties, felt  himself,  and  was  unanimously  acknowledged  to 
be,  among  the  first. 

We  shall  here  close  this  brief  explanation  of  the  history 
and  character  of  some  of  our  personages,  leaving  them  in 
future  to  speak  and  act  for  themselves. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


3i 


CHAPTER  III. 

AU  that  thou  seest,  is  nature's  handiwork  :  I 
Those  rocks  tfiafT  upward  throw" their  mossy  brows 
Like  castled  pinnacles  of  elder  times  ! 
•These  venerable  stems,  that  slowly  rock 
Their  towering  branches  in  the  wintry  gale  I 
That  field  of  frost,  which  glitters  in  the  sun, 
Mocking  the  whiteness  of  a  marble  breast ! 
Yet  man  can  mar  such  works  with  his  rude  taste, 
Like  some  sad  spoiler  of  a  virgin's  fame. 

Duo. 

Some  little  while  elapsed  ere  Marmaduke  Temple  was 
sufficiently  recovered  from  his  agitation  to  scan  the  person 
of  his  new  companion.  He  now  observed  that  he  was  a 
youth  of  some  two  or  three  and  twenty  years  of  age,  and 
rather  above  the  middle  height.  Further  observation  was 
prevented  by  the  rough  overcoat  which  was  belted  close  to 
his  form  by  a  worsted  sash,  much  like  the  one  worn  by 
the  old  hunter.  The  eyes  of  the  Judge,  after  resting  a 
moment  on  the  figure  of  the  stranger,  were  raised  to  a 
scrutiny  of  his  countenance.  There  had  been  a  look  of 
care,  visible  in  the  features  of  the  youth,  when  he  first  en- 
tered the  sleigh,  that  had  not  only  attracted  the  notice  of 
Elizabeth,  but  which  she  had  been  much  puzzled  to  inter- 
pret. His  anxiety  seemed  the  strongest  when  he  was  en- 
joining his  old  companion  to  secrecy;  and  even  when  he 
had  decided,  and  was  rather  passively  suffering  himself  to 
be  conveyed  to  the  village,  the  expression  of  his  eyes  by 
no  means  indicated  any  great  degree  of  self-satisfaction  at 
the  step.  But  the  lines  of  an  uncommonly  prepossessing 
countenance  were  gradually  becoming  composed  ;  and  he 
now  sat  silent,  and  apparently  musing.  The  Judge  gazed 
at  him  for  some  time  with  earnestness,  and  then  smiling, 
as  if  at  his  own  forgetfulness,  he  said,— 

"I  believe,  my  young  friend,  that  terror  has  driven  you 
from  my  recollection;  your  face  is  very  familiar,  and  yet 
for  the  honor  of  a  score  of  bucks'  tails  in  my  cap,  I  could 
not  tell  your  name." 

"  I  came  into  the  country  but  three  weeks  since/'  re- 


32 


THE  PIONEERS. 


turned  the  youth  coldly,  "  and  I  understand  you  have  been 
absent  twice  that  time." 

"  It  will  be  five  to-morrow.  V^t  ynpr  fa^P  is  nnP  f,V4  I 
have  seen ;  though  it  would  not  be  strange,  such  has  been 
my  affright,  should  I  see  thee  in  thy  winding-sheet  walk- 
ing by  my  bedside  to-night.  What  say'st  thou,  Bess  ?  Am 
I  compos  mentis  or  not  ?  fit  to  charge  a  grand  jury,  or,  what 
is  just  now  of  more  pressing  necessity,  able  to  do  the  honors 
of  a  Christmas  Eve  in  the  hall  of  Templeton?" 

"  More  able  to  do  either,  my  dear  father,"  said  a  playful 
voice  from  under  the  ample  inclosures  of  the  hood,  "  than 
to  kill  deer  with  a  smooth-bore."  A  short  pause  followed, 
and  the  same  voice,  but  in  a  different  accent,  continued, 
"We  shall  have  good  reasons  for  our  thanksgiving  to- 
night, on  more  accounts  than  one." 

The  horses  soon  reached  a  point  where  they  seemed  to 
know  by  instinct  that  the  journey  was  nearly  ended,  and 
bearing  on  the  bits  as  they  tossed  their  heads,  they  rapidly 
drew  the  sleigh  over  the  level  land  which  lay  on  the  top  of 
the  mountain,  and  soon  came  to  the  point  where  the  road 
descended  suddenly,  but  circuitously,  into  the  valley. 

The  Judge  was  roused  from  his  reflections,  when  he  saw 
the  four  columns  of  smoke  which  floated  above  his  own 
chimneys.  As  house,  village,  and  valley  burst  on  his  sight, 
he  exclaimed  cheerfully  to  his  daughter, — 

"See,  Bess,  there  is  thy  resting-place  for  life!  And 
thine,  too,  young  man,  if  thou  wilt  consent  to  dwell  with 
us." 

The  eyes  of  his  auditors  involuntarily  met;  and  if  the 
color  that  gathered  over  the  face  of  Elizabeth  was  contra- 
dicted by  the  cold  expression  of  her  eye,  the  ambiguous 
smile  th.at  again  played  about  the  lips  of  the  stranger 
seemed  equally  to  deny  the  probability  of  his  consenting  to 
form  one  of  this  family  group.  The  scene  was  one,  however, 
which  might  easily  warm  a  heart  less  given  to  philanthropy 
than  that  of  Marmaduke  Tempi 

The  side  of  the  mountain  on  which  our  travellers  were 
journeying,  though  not  absolutely  perpendicular,  was  so 
steep  as  to  render  great  care  necessary  in  descending  the 
rude  and  narrow  path,  which,  in  that  early  day,  wound 
along  the  precipices.'  The  negro  reined  in  his  impatient 
steeds,  and  time  was  given  Elizabeth  to  dwell  on  a  scene 
which  was  so  rapidly  altering  under  the  hands  of  man, 
that  it  only  resembled,  in  its  outlines,  the  picture  she  had 


THE  PIONEERS. 


33 


so  often  studied  with  delight,  in  childhood.  Immediately 
beneath  them  lay  a  seeming  plain,  glittering  without  in- 
equality, and  buried  in  mountains.    The  latter  were  pre- 
cipitous, especially  on  the  side  of  the  plain,  and  chiefly  in 
forest.    Here  and  there  the  hills  fell  away  in  long,  low 
points,  and  broke  the  sameness  of  the  outline,  or  setting 
to  the  long  and  wide  field  of  snow,  which,  without  house, 
tree,  fence,  or  any  other  fixture,  resembled  so  much  spot- 
less cloud  settled  to  the  earth.    A  few  dark  and  moving 
spots  were,  however,  visible  on  the  even  surface,  which  the 
eye  of  Elizabeth  knew  to  be  so  many  sleighs  going  their 
several  ways  to  or  from  the  village.   On  the  western  border 
of  the  plain  the  mountains,  though  equally  high,  were  less 
precipitous,  and  as  they  receded,  opened  into  irregular 
valleys  and  glens,  or  were  formed  into  terraces  and  hollows 
that  admitted  of  cultivation.  Although  the  evergreens  still 
held  dominion  over  many  of  the  hills  that  rose  on  this  side 
of  the  valley,  yet  the  undulating  outlines  of  the  distant 
mountains,  covered  with  forests  of  beech  and  maple,  gave 
a  relief  to  the  eye  and  the  promise  of  a  kinder  soil.  Occa- 
sionally spots  of  white  were  discoverable  amidst  the  forests 
of  the  opposite  hills,  which  announced  by  the  smoke  that 
curled  over  the  tops  of  the  trees,  the  habitations  of  man, 
and  the  commencement  of  agriculture.    These  spots  were 
sometimes,  by  the  aid  of  united  labor,  enlarged  into  what 
were  galled  settlements,  but  more  frequently  were  small 
and  insulated;  though  so  rapid  were  the  changes  and  so 
persevering  the  labors  of  those  who  had  cast  their  fortunes 
on  ihe  success  of  the  enterprise,  that  it  was  not  difficult 
for  the  imagination  of  Elizabeth  to  conceive  they  were 
enlarging  under  her  eye,  while  she  was  gazing,  in  mute 
wonder,  at  the  alterations  that  a  few  short  years  had  made 
in  the  aspect  of  the  country.    The  points  on  the  western 
side  of  this  remarkable  plain,  on  which  no  plant  had  taken 
root,  were  both  larger  and  more  numerous  than  those  on 
its  eastern,  and  one  in  particular  thrust  itself  forward  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  form  beautifully  curved  bays  of  snow 
on  either  side.    On  its  extreme  end  an  oak  stretched  for- 
ward, as  if  to  overshadow,  with  its  branches,  a  spot  which 
its  roots  were  forbidden  to  enter.    It  had  released  itself 
from  the  thraldom  that  a  growth  of  centuries  had  im- 
posed on  the  branches  of  the  surrounding  forest  trees,  and 
threw  its  gnarled  and  fantastic  arms  abroad,  in  the  wild- 
ness  of  liberty.    A  dark  spot  of  a  few  acres  in  extent  at 


34 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  southern  extremity  of  this  beautiful  flat,  and  imme- 
diately under  the  feet  of  our  travellers,  alone  showed  by 
its  rippling  surface,  and  the  vapors  which  exhaled  from 
it,  that  what  at  first  might  seem  a  plain,  was  one  of  the 
mountain  lakes,  locked  in  the  frosts  of  winter.  A  narrow 
current  rushed  impetuously  from  its  bosom  at  the  open 
place  we  have  mentioned,  and  was  to  be  traced  for  miles, 
as  it  wound  its  way  towards  the  south  through  the  real 
valley,  by  its  borders  of  hemlock  and  pine,  and  by  the 
vapor  which  arose  from  its  warmer  surface  into  the  chill 
atmosphere  of  the  hills.  The  banks  of  this  lovely  basin, 
at  its  outlet,  or  southern  end,  were  steep  but  not  high; 
and  in  that  direction  the  land  continued,  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach,  a  narrow  but  graceful  valley,  along  which  the 
settlers  had  scattered  their  humble  habitations,  with  a 
profusion  that  bespoke  the  quality  of  the  soil,  and  the 
comparative  facilities  of  intercourse. 

Immediately  on  the  bank  of  the  lake  and  at  its  foot, 
stood  the  village  of  Templeton.  It  consisted  of  some  fifty 
buildings,  including  those  of  every  description,  chiefly 
built  of  wood,  and  which,  in  their  architecture,  bore  no 
great  marks  of  taste,  but  which  also,  by  the  unfinished 
appearance  of  most  of  the  dwellings,  indicated  the  hasty 
manner  of  their  construction.  To  the  eye,  they  presented 
a  variety  of  colors.  A  few  were  white  in  both  front  and 
rear,  but  more  bore  that  expensive  color  on  their  fronts 
only,  while  their  economical  but  ambitious  owners  had 
covered  the  remaining  sides  of  the  edifices  with  a  dingy 
red.  One  or  two  were  slowly  assuming  the  russet  of  age ; 
while  the  uncovered  beams  that  were  to  be  seen  through 
the  broken  windows  of  their  second  stories,  showed  that 
either  the  taste  or  the  vanity  of  their  proprietors  had  led 
them  to  undertake  a  task  which  they  were  unable  to  ac- 
complish. The  whole  were  grouped  in  a  manner  that  aped 
the  streets  of  a  city,  and  were  evidently  so  arranged  by  the 
direction  of  one  who  looked  to  the  wants  of  posterity 
rather  than  to  the  convenience  of  the  present  incumbents. 
Some  three  or  four  of  the  better  sort  of  buildings,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  uniformity  of  their  color,  were  fitted  with  green 
blinds,  which,  at  that  season  at  least,  were  rather  strangely 
contrasted  to  the  chill  aspect  of  the  lake,  the  mountains, 
the  forests,  and  the  wide  fields  of  snow.  Before  the  door 
of  these  pretending  dwellings  were  placed  a  few  saplings, 
either  without  branches,  or  possessing  only  the  teeble 


THE  PIONEERS. 


35 


shoots  of  one  or  two  summers'  growth,  that  looked  not 
unlike  tall  grenadiers  on  post  near  the  threshold  of  princes. 
In  truth,  the  occupants  of  these  favored  habitations  were 
the  nobles  of  Templeton,  as  Marmaduke  was  its  king. 
They  were  the  dwellings  of  two  young  men  who  were  cun- 
ning in  the  law;  an  equal  number  of  that  class  who  chaf- 
fered to  the  wants  of  the  community  under  the  title  of 
store-keepers;  and  a  disciple  of  iEsculapius,  who,  for  a 
novelty,  brought  more  subjects  into  the  world  than  he 
sent  out  of  it.    In  the  midst  of  this  incongruous  group  of 
dwellings,  rose  the  mansion  of  the  Judge,  towering  above 
all  its  neighbors.    It  stood  in  the  centre  of  an  inclosure  of 
several  acres,  which  were  covered  with  fruit  trees.  Some 
of  the  latter  had  been  left  by  the  Indians,  and  began 
already  to  assume  the  moss  and  inclination  of  age,  therein 
forming  a  very  marked  contrast  to  the  infant  plantations 
that  peered  over  most  of  the  picketed  fences  of  the  village. 
In  addition  to  this  show  of  cultivation,  where  two  rows  of 
young  Lombardy  poplars,  a  tree  but  lately  introduced 
into  America,  formally  lining  either  side  of  a  pathway, 
which  led  from  a  gate  that  opened  on  the  principal  street 
to  the  front  door  of  the  building.    The  house  itself  had 
been  built  entirely  under  the  superintendence  of  a  certain 
Mr.  Eichard  Jones,  whom  we  have  already  mentioned,, 
a"nd  who,  from  his  cleverness  in  small  matters,  and  an  en- 
tire willingness  to  exert  his  talents,  added  to  the  circum- 
stance of  their  being  sisters7  children,  ordinarily  superin- 
tended all  the  minor  concerns  of  Marmaduke  Temple. 
Eichard  was  fond  of  saying,  that  this  child  of  his  inven- 
tion consisted  of  nothing  more  nor  less  than  Avhat  should 
form  the  groundwork  of  every  clergyman's  discourse; 
namely,  a  firstly,  and  a  lastly.    He  had  commenced  his 
labors,  in  the  first  year  of  their  residence,  by  erecting  a  tall, 
gaunt  edifice  of  wood,  with  its  gable  toward  the  highway. 
In  this  shelter,  for  it  was  little  more,  the  family  resided 
three  years.    By  the  end  of  that  period,  Eichard  had  com- 
pleted his  design.    He  had  availed  himself,  in  this  heavy 
undertaking,  of  the  experience  of  a  certain  wandering 
eastern  mechanic,  who,  by  exhibiting  a  few  soiled  plates 
of  English  architecture,  and  talking  learnedly  of  friezes, 
entablatures,  and  particularly  of  the  composite  order,  had 
obtained  a  very  undue  influence  over  Richard's  taste,  in 
everything  that  pertained  to  that  branch  of  the  fine  arts. 
Not  that  Mr,  Jones  did  not  affect  to  consider  Hiram  Poo- 


36 


THE  PIONEERS. 


little  a  perfect  empiric  in  his  profession,  being  in  the  con- 
stant habit  of  listening  to  his  treatises  on  architecture 
with  a  kind  of  indulgent  smile;  yet,  either  from  an  ina- 
bility to  oppose  them  by  anything  plausible  from  his  own 
stores  of  learning,  or  from  secret  admiration,  Richard 
generally  submitted  to  the  arguments  of  his  coadjutor. 
Tngrftf.frffl-,  tT^y  hnrl  not,  only  orftf.tftfl  n.  rhyming  for  J£gg 

of__the  whok_jQQunty.  The  composite  order,  Mr.  DoolitihT" 
would  contend,  was  an  order  composed  of  many  others, 
and  was  intended  to  be  the  most  useful  of  all,  for  it  ad- 
mitted into  its  construction  such  alterations  as  convenience 
or  circumstances  might  require.  To  this  proposition 
Richard  usually  assented ;  and  when  rival  geniuses,  who 
monopolise  not  only  all  the  reputation,  but  most  of  the 
money  of  a  neighborhood,  are  of  a  mind,  it  is  not  uncom- 
mon to  see  them  lead  the  fashion,  even  in  graver  matters. 
In  the  present  instance,  as  we  have  already  hinted,  the 
castle,  as  Judge  Templeton's  dwelling  was  termed  in  com- 
mon parlance,  came  to  be  the  model,  in  some  one  or  other 
of  its  numerous  excellences,  for  every  aspiring  edifice 
within  twenty  miles  of  it. 

The  house  itself,  or  the  "lastly/' was  of  stone;  large, 
square,  and  far  from  uncomfortable.  These  were  four 
requisites,  on  which  Marmaduke  had  insisted  with  a  little 
more  than  his  ordinary  pertinacity.  But  everything  else 
was  peaceably  assigned  to  Richard  and  his  associate. 
These  worthies  found  the  material  a  little  too  solid  for  the 
tools  of  their  workmen,  which,  in  general,  were  employed 
on  a  substance  no  harder  than  the  white  pine  of  the  adja- 
cent mountains,  a  wood  so  proverbially  soft,  that  it  is  com- 
monly chosen  by  the  hunters  for  pillows.  But  for  this 
awkward  dilemma,  it  is  probable  that  the  ambitious  tastes 
of  our  two  architects  would  have  left  us  much  more  to  do 
in  the  way  of  description.  Driven  from  the  faces  of  the 
house  by  the  obduracy  of  the  material,  they  took  refuge  in 
the  porch  and  on  the  roof.  The  former,  it  was  decided, 
should  be  severely  classical,  and  the  latter  a  rare  specimen 
of  the  merits  of  the  composite  order. 

A  roof,  Richard  contended,  was  a  part  of  the  edifice  that 
the  ancients  always  endeavored  to  conceal,  it  being  an 
excrescence  in  architecture  that  was  only  to  be  tolerated 
on  account  of  its  usefulness.  Besides,  as  he  wittily  added, 
a  chief  merit  in  a  dwelling  was  to  present  a  front,  on 


THE  PIONEERS. 


37 


whichever  side  it  might  happen  to  be  seen ;  for  as  it  was 
exposed  to  all  eyes  in  all  weathers,  there  should  be  ho 
weak  flank  for  envy  or  unneighborly  criticism  to  assail. 
It  was  therefore  decided  that  the  roof  should  be  flat,  and 
with  four  faces.    To  this  arrangement,  Marmaduke  ob- 
jected the  heavy  snows  that  lay  for  months,  frequently 
covering  the  earth  to  a  depth  of  three  or  four  feet.  Hap- 
pily, the  facilities  of  the  composite  order  presented  them- 
selves to  effect  a  compromise,  and  the  rafters  were  length- 
ened, so  as  to  give  a  descent  that  should  carry  off  the 
frozen  element.    But  unluckily,  some  mistake  was  made 
in  the  admeasurement  of  these  material  parts  of  the 
fabric:  and  as  one  of  the  greatest  recommendations  of 
Hiram  was  his  ability  to  work  by  the  "  square  rule/'  no 
opportunity  was  found  of  discovering  the  effect  until  the 
massive  timbers  were  raised,  on  the  four  walls  of  the 
building.    Then,  indeed,  it  was  soon  seen,  that,  in  defiance 
of  all  rule,  the  roof  was  by  far  the  most  conspicuous  part 
of  the  whole  edifice.    Eichard  and  his  associate  consoled 
themselves  with  the  belief,  that  the  covering  would  aid  in 
concealing  this  unnatural  elevation;  but  every  shingle  that 
was  laid  only  multiplied  objects  to  look  at.  Eichard  essayed 
to  remedy  the  evil  with  paint,  and  four  different  colors 
were  laid  on  by  his  own  hands.    The  first  was  a  sky-blue, 
in  the  vain  expectation  that  the  eye  might  be  cheated  into 
the  belief  it  was  the  heavens  themselves  that  hung  so  im- 
posingly over  Marmaduke's  dwelling;  the  second  was  what 
he  called  a  "cloud-color,"  being  nothing  more  nor  less 
than  an  imitation  of  smoke;  the  third  was  what  Eichard 
termed  an  invisible  green,  an  experiment  that  did  not 
succeed  against  a  background  of  sky.    Abandoning  the 
attempt  to  conceal,  our  architects  drew  upon  their  inven- 
tion for  means  to  ornament  the  offensive  shingles.  After 
much  deliberation  and  two  or  three  essays  by  moonlight, 
Eichard  ended  the  affair  by  boldly  covering  the  whole 
beneath  a  color  that  he  christened  "  sunshine,"  a  cheap 
way,  as  he  assured  his  cousin,  the  Judge,  of  always  keeping 
fair  weather  over  his  head.    The  platform,  as  well  as  the 
eves  of  the  house,  were  surmounted  by  gaudily  painted 
railings,  and  the  genius  of  Hiram  was  exerted  in  the  fabri- 
cation of  divers  urns  and  mouldings,  that  were  scattered 
profusely  around  this  part  of  their  labors.    Eichard  had 
originally  a  cunning  expedient,  by  which  the  chimneys 
were  intended  to  be  so  low,  and  so  situated,  as  to  resemble 


38 


THE  PIONEERS. 


ornaments  on  the  balustrades :  but  comfort  required  that 
the  chimneys  should  rise  with  the  roof,  in  order  that  the 
smoke  might  be  carried  off,  and  they  thus  became  four 
extremely  conspicuous  objects  in  the  view. 

As  this  roof  was  much  the  most  important  architectural 
undertaking  in  which  Mr.  Jones  was  ever  engaged,  his 
failure  produced  a  correspondent  degree  of  mortification. 
At  first,  he  whispered  among  his  acquaintances,  that  it 
proceeded  from  ignorance  of  the  square  rule  on  the  part 
of  Hiram ;  but  as  his  eye  became  gradually  accustomed  to 
the  object,  he  grew  better  satisfied  with  his  labors,  and 
instead  of  apologizing  for  the  defects,  he  commenced 
praising  the  beauties  of  the  Mansion  house.  He  soon 
found  hearers;  and,  as  wealth  and  comfort  are  at  all  times 
attractive,  it  was,  as  has  been  said,  made  a  model  for  imi- 
tation on  a  small  scale.  In  less  than  two  years  from  its 
erection,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  standing  on  the  elevated 
platform,  and  of  looking  down  on  three  humble  imitators 
of  its  beauty.  Thus  it  is  ever  with  fashion,  which  even 
renders  the  faults  of  the  great  subjects  of  admiration. 

Marmaduke  bore  this  deformity  in  his  dwelling  with 
great  good  nature,  and  soon  contrived,  by  his  own  im- 
provements, to  give  an  air  of  respectability  and  comfort  to 
his  place  of  residence.  Still  there  was  much  incongruity, 
even  immediately  about  the  Mansion-house.  Although 
poplars  had  been  brought  from  Europe  to  ornament  the 
grounds,  and  willows  and  other  trees  were  gradually 
springing  up  nigh  the  dwelling,  yet  many  a  pile  of  snow 
betrayed  the  presence  of  the  stump  of  a  pine;  and  even 
in  one  or  two  instances,  unsightly  remnants  of  trees  that 
had  been  partly  destroyed  by  fire  were  seen  rearing  then- 
black,  glistening  columns  twenty  or  thirty  feet  above  the 
pure  white  of  the  snow.  These,  which  in  the  language  of 
the  country  are  termed  stubs,  abounded  in  the  open  fields 
adjacent  to  the  village,  and  were  accompanied,  occasion- 
ally, by  the  ruin  of  a  pine  or  a  hemlock  that  had  been 
stripped  of  its  bark,  and  which  waved  in  melancholy 
grandeur  its  naked  limbs  to  the  blast,  a  skeleton  of  its 
former  glory.  But  these  and  many  other  unpleasant  ad- 
ditions to  the  view  were  unseen  by  the  delighted  Eliza- 
beth, who,  as  the  horses  moved  down  the  side  of  the 
mountain,  saw  only  in  gross  the  cluster  of  houses  that  lay 
like  a  map  at  her  feet;  the  fifty  smokes  that  were  curling 
from  the  valley  to  the  clouds;  the  frozen  lake,  as  it  lay  im- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


30 


bedded  in  mountains  of  evergreen,  with  the  long  shadows 
of  the  pines  on  its  white  surface,  lengthening  in  the  setting 
sun ;  the  dark  ribbon  of  water,  that  gushed  from  the  out- 
let, and  was  winding  its  way  towards  the  distant  Chesa- 

eake — the  altered,  though  still  remembered,  scenes  of 

er  childhood. 

Five  years  had  wrought  greater  changes  than  a  century 
would  produce  in  countries  where  time  and  labor  have 
given  permanency  to  the  works  of  man.  To  the  young 
hunter  and  the  Judge  the  scene  had  less  novelty;  though 
none  ever  emerge  from  the  dark  forests  of  that  mountain, 
and  witness  the  glorious  scenery  of  that  beauteous  valley, 
as  it  bursts  unexpectedly  upon  them,  without  a  feeling  of 
delight.  The  former  cast  one  admiring  glance  from  north 
to  south,  and  sank  his  face  again  beneath  the  folds  of  his 
coat;  while  the  latter  contemplated,  with  philanthropic 
pleasure,  the  prospect  of  affluence  and  comfort  that  was 
expanding  around  him ;  the  result  of  his  own  enterprise,  * 
and  much  of  it  the  fruits  of  his  own  industry. 

The  cheerful  sound  of  sleigh-bells,  however,  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  whole  party,  as  they  came  jingling  up  the 
sides  of  the  mountain,  at  a  rate  that  announced  a  powerful 
team  and  a  hard  driver.  The  bushes  which  lined  the 
highway  interrupted  the  view,  and  the  two  sleighs  were 
close  upon  each  other  before  either  was  seen. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

How  now  ?  whose  mare's  dead  ?  what's  the  matter  ? 

Falstaff. 

A  large  lumber-sleigh,  drawn  by  four  horses,  was  soon 
seen  dashing  through  the  leafless  bushes  which  fringed 
the  road.  The  leaders  were  of  gray,  and  the  pole  horses 
of  a  jet  black.  Bells  innumerable  were  suspended  from 
every  part  of  the  harness  where  one  of  the  tinkling  balls 
could  be  placed ;  while  the  rapid  movement  of  the  equi- 
page, in  defiance  of  the  steep  ascent,  announced  the  desire 
of  the  driver  to  ring  them  to  the  utmost.  The  first  glance 
at  this  singular  arrangement  acquainted  the  Judge  with 
the  character  of  those  in  the  sleigh.  It  contained  four 
male  figures.    On  one  of  those  stools  that  are  used  as 


40 


THE  PIONEERS. 


writing-desks,  lashed  firmly  to  the  sides  of  the  vehicle, 
was  seated  a  little  man,  enveloped  in  a  great-coat  fringed 
with  fur,  in  such  a  manner  that  no  part  of  him  was  visible 
excepting  a  face  of  an  unvarying  red  color.    There  was  a 
habitual  upward  look  about  the  head  of  this  gentleman, 
as  if  dissatisfied  with  its  natural  proximity  to  the  earth; 
and  the  expression  of  his  countenance  was  that  of  busy 
care.    He  was  the  charioteer,  and  he  guided  the  mettled 
animals  along  the  precipice  with  a  fearless  eye  and  a  steady 
hand.    Immediately  behind  him,  with  his  face  towards 
the  other  two,  was  a  tall  figure,  to  whose  appearance  not 
even  the  duplicate  overcoats  which  he  wore,  aided  by  the 
corner  of  a  horse-blanket,  could  give  the  appearance  of 
strength.    His  face  was  protruding  from  beneath  a  woolen 
night-cap ;  and  when  he  turned  to  the  vehicle  of  Marma- 
duke,  as  the  sleighs  approached  each  other,  it  seemed 
formed  by  nature  to  cut  the  atmosphere  with  the  least- 
possible  resistance.    The  eyes  alone  appeared  to  create  any 
obstacle,  for  from  either  side  of  his  forehead  their  light, 
blue,  glassy  balls  projected.    The  sallow  of  his  counte- 
nance was  too  permanent  to  be  affected  even  by  the  intense 
cold  of  the  evening.  Opposite  to  this  personage  sat  a  solid, 
short,  and  square  figure.    No  part  of  his  form  was  to  be 
discovered  through  his  over-dress,  but  a  face  that  was  illu- 
minated bv  a  pair  of  black  eyes,  that  gave  the  lie  to  every 
demure  feature  in  his  countenance.    A  fair,  jolly  wig  fur- 
nished a  neat  and  rounded  outline  to  his  visage,  and  he,  as 
well  as  the  other  two,  wore  marten-skin  caps.    The  fourth 
was  a  meek-looking,  long-visaged  man,  without  any  other 
protection  from  the  cold  than  that  which  was  furnished 
by  a  black  surtout,  made  with  some  little  formality,  but 
which  was  rather  threadbare  and  rusty.    He  wore  a  hat 
of  extremely  decent  proportions,  though  frequent  brush- 
ing had  quite  destroyed  its  nap.    His  face  was  pale,  and 
withal  a  little  melancholy,  or  what  might  be  termed  of  a 
studious  complexion.    The  air  had  given  it,  just  now,  a 
slight  and  somewhat  feverish  flush.    The  character  of  his 
whole  appearance,  especially  contrasted  to  the  air  of  humor 
in  his  next  companion,  was  that  of  habitual  mental  care. 
No  sooner  had  the  two  sleighs  approached  withm  speak- 
ing distance,  than  the  driver  of  this  fantastic  equipage 
shouted  aloud, — 

"  Draw  up  in  the  quarry— draw  up,  thou  king  of  the 
Greeks;  draw  into  the  quarry,  Agamemnon,  or  I  shall 


THE  PIONEERS. 


never  be  able  to  pass  you.  Welcome  home,  cousin  'Duke 
— welcome,  welcome,  black-eyed  Bess.  Thou  seest,  Mar- 
maduke,  that  I  have  taken  the  field  with  an  assorted  car- 
go, to  do  thee  honor.  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  has  come  out 
with  only  one  cap;  old  Fritz  would  not  stay  to  finish  the 
bottle;  and  Mr.  Grant  has  got  to  put  the  ' lastly '  to  his 
sermon  yet.  Even  all  the  horses  would  come — by  the  bye, 
Judge,  I  must  sell  the  blacks  for  you  immediately;  they 
interfere,  and  the  nigh  one  is  a  bad  goer  in  double  har- 
ness. I  can  get  rid  of  them  to  " — 

"  Sell  what  thou  wilt,  Dickon,"  interrupted  the  cheerful 
voice  of  the  Judge,  "so  that  thou  leavest  me  my  daughter 
and  my  lands.  Ah !  Fritz,  my  old  friend,  this  is  a  kind 
compliment,  indeed,  for  seventy  to  pay  to  five-and-forty. 
Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  I  am  your  servant.  Mr.  Grant,"  lift- 
ing his  cap,  "  I  feel  indebted  to  your  attention.  Gentle- 
men, I  make  you  acquainted  with  my  child.  Yours  are 
names  with  which  she  is  very  familiar." 

"  Velcome,velcome,  Tchooge,"  said  the  elder  of  the  party, 
with  a  strong  German  accent.  "  Miss  Petsy  vill  owe  me 
a  kiss." 

"And  cheerfully  will  I  pay  it,  my  good  sir,"  cried  the 
soft  voice  of  Elizabeth ;  which  sounded,  in  the  clear  air  of 
the  hills,  like  tones  of  silver,  amid  the  loud  cries  of  Eichard. 
"  I  have  always  a  kiss  for  my  old  friend,  Major  Hart- 
mann." 

By  this  time  the  gentleman  in  the  front  seat,  who  had 
been  addressed  as  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  had  arisen  with  some 
difficulty,  owing  to  the  impediment  of  his  overcoats,  and 
steadying  himself  by  placing  one  hand  on  the  stool  of  the 
charioteer,  with  the  other  he  removed  his  cap,  and  bowing 
politely  to  the  Judge,  and  profoundly  to  Elizabeth,  he 
paid  his  compliments. 

"  Cover  thy  poll,  Gaul,  cover  thy  poll,"  cried  the  driver, 
who  was  Mr.  Richard  Jones;  "cover  thy  poll,  or  the  frost 
will  pluck  out  the  remnant  of  thy  locks.  Had  the  hairs 
on  the  head  of  Absalom  been  as  scarce  as  thine,  he  might 
have  been  living  to  this  day."  The  jokes  of  Richard  never 
failed  of  exciting  risibility,  for  he  uniformly  did  honor  to 
his  own  wit;  and  he  enjoyed  a  hearty  laugh  on  the  pres- 
ent occasion,  while  Mr.  Le  Quoi  resumed  his  seat  with  a 
polite  reciprocation  in  his  mirth.  The  clergyman,  for  such 
was  the  office  of  Mr.  Grant,  modestly,  though  quite  affec- 
tionately, exchanged  his  greetings  with  the  travellers  also, 


42 


THE  PIONEERS. 


when  Richard  prepared  to  turn  the  heads  of  his  horses 
homeward. 

It  was  in  the  quarry  alone  that  he  could  effect  this  ob- 
ject, without  ascending  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain. 
A  very  considerable  excavation  had  been  made  in  the  side 
of  the  hill,  at  the  point  where  Richard  had  succeeded  in 
stopping  the  sleighs,  from  which  the  stones  used  for  build- 
ing in  the  village  were  ordinarily  quarried,  and  in  which  he 
now  attempted  to  turn  his  team.  Passing  itself  was  a  task 
of  difficulty,  and  frequently  of  danger  in  that  narrow  road ; 
but  Richard  had  to  meet  the  additional  risk  of  turning  his 
four-in-hand.  The  black  civilly  volunteered  his  services  to 
take  off  the  leaders,  and  the  Judge  very  earnestly  seconded 
the  measure  with  his  advice.  Richard  treated  both  pro- 
posals with  great  disdain. 

"Why,  and  wherefore,  cousin  'Duke? "  he  exclaimed,  a 
little  angrily :  "  the  horses  are  gentle  as  lambs.  You  know 
that  I  broke  the  leaders  myself,  and  the  pole-horses  are  too 
near  my  whip  to  be  restive.  Here  is  Mr.  Le  Quoi,  now, 
who  must  know  something  about  driving,  because  he  has 
rode  out  so  often  with  me;  I  will  leave  it  to  Mr.  Le  Quoi 
whether  there  is  any  danger." 

It  was  not  in  the  nature  of  the  Frenchman  to  disappoint 
expectations  so  confidently  formed ;  although  he  sat  look- 
ing down  the  precipice  which  fronted  him,  as  Richard 
turned  his  leaders  into  the  quarry,  with  a  pair  of  eyes  that 
stood  out  like  those  of  lobsters.  The  German's  muscles 
were  unmoved,  but  his  quick  sight  scanned  each  movement. 
Mr.  Grant  placed  his  hands  on  the  side  of  the  sleigh,  in 
preparation  for  a  spring,  but  moral  timidity  deterred  him 
from  taking  the  leap  that  bodily  apprehension  strongly 
urged  him  to  attempt. 

Richard,  by  a  sudden  application  of  the  whip,  succeeded 
in  forcing  the  leaders  into  the  snow-bank  that  covered  the 
quarry ;  but  the  instant  that  the  impatient  animals  suffered 
by  the  crust,  through  which  they  broke  at  each  step,  they 
positively  refused  to  move  an  inch  further  in  that  direc- 
tion. On  the  contrary,  finding  that  the  cries  and  blows 
of  their  driver  were  redoubled  at  this  juncture,  the  leaders 
backed  upon  the  pole-horses,  who,  in  their  turn,  backed 
the  sleigh.  Only  a  single  log  lay  above  the  pile  which  up- 
held the  road,  on  the  side  towards  the  valley,  and  this  was 
now  buried  in  the  snow.  The  sleigh  was  easily  forced 
across  so  slight  an  impediment;  and  before  Richard  became 


THE  PIONEERS. 


AS 


conscious  of  his  danger,  one  half  of  the  vehicle  was  pro- 
jected over  a  precipice,  which  fell,  perpendicularly,  more 
than  a  hundred  feet.  The  Frenchman,  who,  by  his  posi- 
tion, had  a  full  view  of  their  threatened  flight,  instinctively 
threw  his  body  as  far  forward  as  possible,  and  cried,  "Ah ! 
mon  cher  Monsieur  Deeck!  mon  Dieu!  que  faites  vous!" 

"  Donner  and  blitzen,  Richart,"  exclaimed  the  veteran 
German,  looking  over  the  side  of  the  sleigh  with  unusual 
emotion,  "put  you  will  preak  ter  sleigh  and  kilt  ter  horses." 

"  Good  Mr.  Jones,"  said  the  clergyman,  "  be  prudent, 
good  sir — be  careful." 

"  Get  up,  obstinate  devils ! "  cried  Eichard,  catching  a 
bird's-eye  view  of  his  situation,  and,  in  his  eagerness  to 
move  forward,  kicking  the  stool  on  which  he  sat, "  Get  up, 
I  say:  cousin  'Duke,  I  shall  have  to  sell  the  grays  too; 
they  are  the  worst  broken  horses ;  Mr.  Le  Quaw !  " — Rich- 
ard was  too  much  agitated  to  regard  his  pronunciation,  of 
which  he  was  commonly  a  little  vain — "  Monsieur  Le  Quaw, 
pray  get  off  my  leg;  you  hold  my  leg  so  tight,  that  it's  no 
wonder  the  horses  back." 

"  Merciful  Providence ! "  exclaimed  the  Judge, "  they  will 
be  all  killed!" 

Elizabeth  gave  a  piercing  shriek,  and  the  black  of  Aga- 
memnon's face  changed  to  a  muddy  white. 

At  this  critical  moment,  the  young  hunter,  who,  during 
the  salutations  of  the  parties,  had  sat  in  rather  sullen  si- 
lence, sprang  from  the  sleigh  of  Marmaduke  to  the  heads 
of  the  refractory  leaders.  The  horses,  who  were  yet  suffer- 
ing under  the  injudicious  and  somewhat  random  blows  of 
Richard,  were  dancing  up  and  down  with  that  ominous 
movement  that  threatens  a  sudden  and  uncontrollable 
start,  still  pressing  backwards.  The  youth  gave  the  lead- 
ers a  powerful  jerk,  and  they  plunged  aside,  and  reentered 
the  road  in  the  position  in  which  'they  were  first  halted. 
The  sleigh  was  whirled  from  its  dangerous  position,  and 
upset  with  the  runners  outwards.  The  German  and  the 
divine  were  thrown,  rather  unceremoniously,  into  the  high- 
way, but  without  danger  to  their  bones.  Richard  appeared 
in  the  air,  describing  the  segment  of  a  circle  of  which  the 
reins  were  the  radii,  and  landed  at  the  distance  of  some 
fifteen  feet,  in  that  snow-bank  which  the  horses  had 
dreaded,  right  end  uppermost.  Here,  as  he  instinctively 
grasped  the  reins,  as  drowning  men  seize  at  straws,  he  ad- 
mirably served  the  purpose  of  an  anchor.    The  French- 


44 


THE  PIONEERS. 


man,  who  was  on  his  legs  in  the  act  of  springing  from  the 
sleigh,  took  an  aerial  flight  also,  much  in  the  attitude 
which  boys  assume  when  they  play  leap-frog,  and  flying 
on*  in  a  tangent  to  the  curvature  of  his  course,  came  into 
the  snow-bank  head  foremost,  where  he  remained,  exhibit- 
ing two  lathy  legs  on  high,  like  scarecrows  waving  in  a 
corn-field.  Major  Hartmann,  whose  self-possession  had 
been  admirably  preserved  during  the  whole  evolution,  was 
the  first  of  the  party  that  gained  his  feet  and  his  voice. 

"  Ter  dey vel,  Richart !  "  he  exclaimed,  in  a  voice  half  se- 
rious, half  comical,  "  put  you  unloat  your  sleigh  very  han- 
tily  " 

It  may  be  doubtful  whether  the  attitude  in  which  Mr. 
Grant  continued  for  an  instant  after  his  overthrow  was  the 
one  into  which  he  had  been  thrown,  or  was  assumed,  in 
humbling  himself  before  the  power  that  he  reverenced,  in 
thanksgiving  at  his  escape.  When  he  rose  from  his  knees 
he  began  to  gaze  about  him,  with  anxious  looks,  after  the 
welfare  of  his  companions,  while  every  joint  in  his  body 
trembled  with  nervous  agitation.  There  was  some  confu- 
sion in  the  faculties  of  Mr.  Jones  also;  but  as  the  mist 
gradually  cleared  from  before  his  eyes,  he  saw  that  all  was 
safe,  and,  with  an  air  of  great  self-satisfaction,  he  cried, 
"Well!  that  was  neatly  saved,  anyhow!  it  was  a  lucky 
thought  in  me  to  hold  on  the  reins,  or  the  fiery  devils 
would  have  been  over  the  mountain  by  this  time.  How 
well  I  recovered  myself,  'Duke!  Another  moment  would 
have  been  too  late;  but  I  knew  just  the  spot  where  to 
touch  the  off-leader;  that  blow  under  his  right  flank,  and 
the  sudden  jerk  I  gave  the  rein,  brought  them  round 
quite  in  rule,  I  must  own  myself."1 

"Thou  jerk!  thou  recover  thyself,  Dickon!"  he  said; 
"  but  for  that  brave  lad  yonder,  thou  and  thy  horses,  or 
rather  mine,  would  have  been  dashed  to  pieces;  but  where 
is  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  ?  " 

"  0 !  mon  cher  Juge !  Mon  ami ! "  cried  a  smothered 
voice,  "praise  be  God,  I  live;  vill  you,  Mister  Agamem- 
non, be  pleas  come  down  ici,  and  help  me  on  my  leg  ?  " 

The  divine  and  the  negro  seized  the  incarcerated  Gaul 
by  his  legs,  and  extricated  him  from  a  snow-bank  of  three 
feet  in  depth,  whence  his  voice  had  sounded  as  from  the 


'The  spectators,  from  immemorial  usage,  have  a  right  to  laugh  at  the  cas- 
ualties of  a  sleigh-ride:  and  the  Judge  was  no  sooner  certain  that  no  harm  was 
done,  than  he  made  full  use  of  the  privilege. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


45 


tombs.  The  thoughts  of  Mr.  Le  Quoi,  immediately  on  his 
liberation,  were  not  extremely  collected;  and  when  he 
reached  the  light,  he  threw  his  eyes  upwards,  in  order  to 
examine  the  distance  he  had  fallen.  His  good  humor  re- 
turned, however,  with  a  knowledge  of  his  safety,  though 
it  was  some  little  time  before  he  clearly  comprehended  the 
case. 

"  What,  Monsieur/'  said  Richard,  who  was  busily  assist- 
ing the  black  in  taking  off  the  leaders;  "are  you  there  ? 
I  thought  I  saw  you  flying  towards  the  top  of  the  moun- 
tain just  now." 

"  Praise  be  God,  I  no  fly  down  into  the  lake,"  returned 
the  Frenchman,  with  a  visage  that  was  divided  between 
pain,  occasioned  by  a  few  large  scratches  that  he  had  re- 
ceived in  forcing  his  head  through  the  crust,  and  the  look 
of  complaisance  that  seemed  natural  to  his  pliable  features : 
"  ah !  mon  cher  Mister  Deeck,  vat  you  do  next  ?  dere  be 
noting  you  no  try." 

"  The  next  thing,  I  trust,  will  be  to  learn  to  drive,"  said 
the  Judge,  who  had  busied  himself  in  throwing  the  buck, 
together  with  several  other  articles  of  baggage,  from  his 
own  sleigh  into  the  snow ;  "  here  are  seats  for  you  all,  gen- 
tlemen ;  the  evening  grows  piercingly  cold,  and  the  hour 
approaches  for  the  service  of  Mr.  Grant:  we  will  leave 
friend  Jones  to  repair  the  damages,  with  the  assistance  of 
Agamemnon,  and  hasten  to  a  warm  fire.  Here,  Dickon, 
are  a  few  articles  of  Bess's  trumpery,  that  you  can  throw 
into  your  sleigh  when  ready;  and  there  is  also  a  deer  of 
my  taking,  that  I  will  thank  you  to  bring.  Aggy !  remem- 
ber that  there  will  be  a  visit  from  Santa  Glaus  1  to-night." 

The  black  grinned,  conscious  of  the  bribe  that  was  offered, 
him  for  silence  on  the  subject  of  the  deer,  while  Richard, 
without  in  the  least  waiting  for  the  termination  of  his 
cousin's  speech,  began  his  reply : — 

"  Learn  to  drive,  sayest  thou,  cousin  'Duke  ?  Is  there  a 
man  in  the  country  who  knows  more  of  horse-flesh  than 
myself  ?  Who  broke  in  the  filly,  that  no  one  else  dare 
mount;  though  your  coachman  did  pretend  that  he  had 
tamed  her  before  I  took  her  in  hand ;  but  anybody  could 
see  that  he  lied ;  he  was  a  great  liar,  that  J ohn — what's 


1  The  periodical  visits  of  St.  Nicholas,  or  Santa  Claus  as  he  is  termed,  were 
never  forgotten  among  the  inhabitants  of  New  York,  until  the  emigration  from 
New  England  brought  in  the  opinions  and  usages  of  the  Puritans.  Like  the 
"  bon  homme  de  Noel,'1  he  arrives  at  each  Christmas. 


46 


THE  PIONEERS. 


that,  a  buck?"  Richard  abandoned  the  horses,  and  ran 
to  the  spot  where  Marmaduke  had  thrown  the  deer.  "  It 
is  a  buck!  I  am  amazed!  Yes,  here  are  two  holes  in  him; 
he  has  lired  both  barrels,  and  hit  him  each  time.  Ecod! 
how  Marmaduke  will  brag!  he  is  a  prodigious  bragger 
about  any  small  matter  like  this  now;  well,  to  think  that 
'Duke  has  killed  a  buck  before  Christmas!  There  will  be 
no  such  thing  as  living  with  him;  they  are  both  bad  shots 
though,  mere  chance— mere  chance ;  now,  I  never  fired  twice 
at  a  cloven  foot  in  my  life;  it  is  hit  or  miss  with  me— 
dead  or  run  away:  had  it  been  a  bear,  or  a  wild-cat,  a  man 
might  have  wanted  both  barrels.  Here !  you  Aggy !  how 
far  off  was  the  Judge  when  this  buck  was  shot  ? 99 

"Eh!  Massa  Richard,  may  be  a  ten  rod,"  cried  the  black, 
bending  under  one  of  the  horses,  with  the  pretense  of  fast- 
ening a  buckle,  but  in  reality  to  conceal  the  grin  that 
opened  a  mouth  from  ear  to  ear. 

i  -i^en  rod!"  echoed  the  other;  "why  A88J> the  <*eer  I 
killed  last  winter  was  at  twenty;  yes!  if  anything  it  was 
nearer  thirty  than  twenty.  I  wouldn't  shoot  at  a  deer  at 
ten  rod:  besides,  you  may  remember,  Aggy,  I  only  fired 
once . 

"Yes,  Massa  Richard,  I  'member  em'!  Natty  Bumppo 
fire  t'oder  gun.    You  know,  sir,  all  'e  folk  say  Natty  kill 

"The  folks  lie,  you  black  devil!"  exclaimed  Richard  in 
great  heat.  "  I  have  not  shot  even  a  gray  squirrel  these 
four  years,  to  which  that  old  rascal  has  not  laid  claim,  or 
some  one  else  for  him.  This  is  a  damned  envious  world 
that  we  live  m;  people  are  always  for  dividing  the  credit 
ot  a  thing,  in  order  to  bring  down  merit  to  their  own  level 
Now  they  have  a  story  about  the  Patent,1  that  Hiram  Doo- 
little  he  ped  to  plan  the  steeple  to  St.  Paul's;  when  Hiram 
knows  that  it  is  entirely  mine;  a  little  taken  from  a  print 
ot  its  namesake  in  London,  I  own;  but  essentially,  as  to 
all  points  of  genius,  my  own." 

u  "  I  don't  know  where  he  come  from,"  said  the  black,  los- 

«n£  ?Vei7  ?ark  °f  lmmor  in  an  expression  of  admiration, 
but  eb  rybody  say  he  wonnerful  hansome." 

«  The  grants  of  land,  made  either  by  the  Crown  or  the  State  were  bv  letters 
E^^*ZEZ*&i  S1'       7,Hh  *"?  "P^nt-  is  usually' up  .lieTto  any 


THE  PIONEERS. 


47 


"And  well  they  may  say  so,  Aggy,"  cried  Richard,  leav- 
ing the  buck  and  walking  up  to  the  negro  with  the  air  of 
a  man  who  has  new  interest  awakened  within  him.  "  I 
think  I  may  say,  without  bragging,  that  it  is  the  handsom- 
est and  the  most  scientific  country  church  in  America.  I 
know  that  the  Connecticut  settlers  talk  about  their 
Wethersfield  meeting-house;  but  I  never  believe  more 
than  half  what  they  say,  they  are  such  unconscionable 
braggers.  Just  as  you  have  got  a  thing  done,  if  they  see 
it  likely  to  be  successful,  they  are  always  for  interfering ; 
and  then  it's  ten  to  one  but  they  lay  claim  to  half,  or  even 
all  of  the  credit.  You  may  remember,  Aggy,  when  I 
painted  the  sign  of  the  '  Bold  Dragoon '  for  Captain  Hol- 
lister,  there  was  that  fellow,  who  was  about  town  laying 
brick  dust  on  the  houses,  came  one  day  and  offered  to  mix 
what  I  call  the  streaky  black,  for  the  tail  and  mane,  and 
then,  because  it  looks  like  horse  hair,  he  tells  everybody 
that  the  sign  was  painted  by  himself  and  Squire  Jones.  If 
Marmaduke  don't  send  that  fellow  off  the  Patent,  he  may 
ornament  his  village  with  his  own  hands  for  me."  Here 
Eichard  paused  a  moment,  and  cleared  his  throat  by  a 
loud  hem,  while  the  negro,  who  was  all  this  time  busily 
engaged  in  preparing  the  sleigh,  proceeded  with  his  work 
in  respectful  silence.  Owing  to  the  religious  scruples  of 
the  Judge,  Aggy  was  the  servant  of.  Richard,  who  had  his 
services  for  a  time,1  and  who,  of  course,  commanded  a 
legal  claim  to  the  respect  of  the  young  negro.  But  when 
any  dispute  between  his  lawful  and  his  real  master  oc- 
curred, the  black  felt  too  much  deference  for  both  to  ex- 
press any  opinion.  In  the  mean  while,  Richard  continued 
watching  the  negro  as  he  fastened  buckle  after  buckle, 
until,  stealing  a  look  of  consciousness  towards  the  other, 
he  continued,  "  Now,  if  that  young  man  who  was  in  your 
sleigh,  is  a  real  Connecticut  settler,  he  will  be  telling  every- 
body how  he  saved  my  horses,  when,  if  he  had  let  them 
alone  for  half  a  minute  longer,  I  would  have  brought  them 
in  much  better,  without  upsetting,  with  the  whip  and  rein 

1  The  manumission  of  the  slaves  in  New  York  has  been  gradual.  When  pub- 
lic opinion  became  strong  in  their  favor,  there  grew  up  a  custom  of  buying  the 
services  of  a  slave,  for  six  or  eight  years,  with  a  condition  to  liberate  him  at  the 
end  of  the  period.  Then  the  law  provided  that  all  born  after  a  certain  day  should 
be  free,  the  males  at  twenty-eight  and  tne  females  at  twenty-five.  After  this 
the  owner  was  obliged  to  cause  his  servants  to  be  taught  to  read  and  write  before 
they  reached  the  age  of  eighteen,  and,  finally,  the  few  that  remained  were  all 
unconditionally  liberated  in  1826,  or  after  the  publication  of  this  tale.  It  was 
quite  usual  for  men  more  or  less  connected  with  the  Quakers,  who  never  held 
slaves,  to  adopt  the  first  expedient. 


43 


THE  PIONEERS. 


it  spoils  a  horse  to  give  him  his  head.  I  should  not 
wonder  if  I  had  to  sell  the  whole  team,  just  for  that  one 
jerk  he  gave  them."  Richard  paused,  and  hemmed;  for  his 
conscience  smote  him  a  little,  for  censuring  a  man  who 
had  just  saved  his  life.  "  Who  is  the  lad,  Aggy  ?  I  don't 
remember  to  have  seen  him  before." 

The  black  recollected  the  hint  about  Santa  Claus;  and 
while  he  briefly  explained  how  they  had  taken  up  the  per- 
son in  question  on  the  top  of  the  mountain,  he  forbore  to 
add  anything  concerning  the  accident  of  the  wound,  only 
saying  that  he  believed  the  youth  was  a  stranger.  It  was 
so  usual  for  men  of  the  first  rank  to  take  into  their  sleighs 
any  one  they  found  toiling  through  the  snow,  that  Richard 
was  perfectly  satisfied  with  this  explanation.  He  heard 
Aggy  with  great  attention,  and  then  remarked,  "  Well,  if 
the  lad  has  not  been  spoiled  by  the  people  in  Templeton, 
he  may  be  a  modest  young  man,  and  as  he  certainly  meant 
well,  I  shall  take  some  notice  of  him ;  perhaps  he  is  land- 
hunting— I  say,  Aggy,  may  be  he  is  out  hunting  ?  " 

"  Eh !  yes,  Massa  Richard,"  said  the  black,  a  little  con- 
fused; for  as  Richard  did  all  the  flogging,  he  stood  in 
great  terror  of  his  master,  in  the  main :  "  yes,  sir,  I  b'lieve 
he  be." 

"  Had  he  a  pack  and  an  axe  ?  " 
"  No,  sir,  only  the  rifle." 

"  Rifle !  "  exclaimed  Richard,  observing  the  confusion  of 
the  negro,  which  now  amounted  to  terror.  "  By  Jove,  he 
killed  the  deer!  I  knew  that  Marmaduke  couldn't  kill  a 
buck  on  the  jump;  how  was  it,  Aggy?  tell  me  all  about  it, 
and  FU  roast  'Duke  quicker  than  he  can  roast  his  saddle 
—how  was  it,  Aggy  ?  the  lad  shot  the  buck,  and  the  Judge 
bought  it,  ha !  and  he  is  taking  the  youth  down  to  get  the 
pay  ?  " 

The  pleasure  of  this  discovery  had  put  Richard  in  such 
a  good  humor,  that  the  negro's  fears  in  some  measure  van- 
ished, and  he  remembered  the  stocking  of  Santa  Claus. 
After  a  gulp  or  two,  he  made  out  to  reply  :— 

"  You  forgit  a  two  shot,  sir  ?  " 

"  Don't  lie,  you  black  rascal !  "  cried  Richard,  stepping 
on  the  snow-bank  to  measure  the  distance  from  his  lash  to 
the  negro's  back ;  "  speak  truth,  or  I  trounce  you."  While 
speaking,  the  stock  was  slowly  rising  in  Richard's  right 
hand,  and  the  lash  drawing  through  his  left,  in  the  scien- 
tific manner  with  which  drummers  applv  the  cat;  and 


THE  PIONEERS. 


49 


Agamemnon,  after  turning  each  side  of  himself  towards 
his  master,  and  finding  both  equally  unwilling  to  remain 
there,  fairly  gave  in.  In  a  very  few  words  he  made  his 
master  acquainted  with  the  truth,"  at  the  same  time  earn- 
estly conjuring  Richard  to  protect  him  from  the  displeas- 
ure of  the  Judge. 

"  I'll  do  it,  boy,  I'll  do  it,"  cried  the  other,  rubbing  his 
hands  with  delight ;  "  say  nothing,  but  leave  me  to  manage 
'Duke :  I  have  a  great  mind  to  leave  the  deer  on  the  hill, 
and  to  make  the  fellow  send  for  his  own  carcass :  but  no, 
I  will  let  Marmaduke  tell  a  few  bounces  about  it  before  I 
come  out  upon  him.  Come,  hurry  in,  Aggy,  I  must  help 
to  dress  the  lad's  wound :  this  Yankee1  doctor  knows  noth- 
ing of  surgery  — I  had  to  hold  old  Milligan's  leg  for  him, 
while  he  cut  it  off."  Richard  was  now  seated  on  the  stool 
again,  and  the  black  taking  the  hind  seat,  the  steeds  were 
put  in  motion  towards  home.  As  they  dashed  down  the 
hill,  on  a  fast  trot,  the  driver  occasionally  turned  his  face  to 
Aggy,  and  continued  speaking;  for  notwithstanding  their 
recent  rencontre,  the  most  perfect  cordiality  was  again 
existing  between  them.  "  This  goes  to  prove  that  I  turned 
the  horses  with  the  reins,  for  no  man  who  is  shot  in  the 
right  shoulder  can  have  strength  enough  to  bring  round 
such  obstinate  devils.  I  knew  I  did  it  from  the  first;  but 
I  did  not  want  to  multiply  words  with  Marmaduke  about 
it.  Will  you  bite,  you  villain  ?— hip,  boys,  hip !  Old  Natty 
too,  that  is  the  best  of  it !  Well,  well,  'Duke  will  say  no 
more  about  my  deer;  and  the  Judge  fired  both  barrels, 
and  hit  nothing  but  a  poor  lad,  who  was  behind  a'  pine 
tree.  I  must  help  that  qijack  to  take  out  the  buckshot  for 
the  poor  fellow."  In  this  manner  Richard  descended  the 
mountain;  the  bells  ringing,  and  his  tongue  going,  until 
they  entered  the  village,  when  the  whole  attention  of  the 
driver  was  devoted  to  a  display  of  his  horsemanship,  to  the 
admiration  of  all  the  gaping  women  and  children  who 
thronged  the  windows  to  witness  the  arrival  of  their  land- 
lord and  his  daughter. 


1  In  America  the  term  Yankee  is  of  local  meaning.  It  is  thought  to  be  derived 
from  the  manner  in  which  the  Indians  of  New  England  pronounced  the  word 
"English1'1  or  "  Yengeese.'11  .  New  York  being  originally  a  Dutch  province,  the 
term  of  course  was  not  known  there,  and  further  south  different  dialects  among 
the  natives  themselves,  probably  produced  a  different  pronunciation.  Marma- 
duke and  his  cousin  being  Pennsyivanians  by  birth,  were  not  Yankees  in  the 
American,  sense  of  the  word. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Nathaniel's  coat,  sir,  was  not  fully  made, 

And  Gabriel's  pumps  were  all  unpink'd  i'  th'  heel ; 

There  was  no  link  to  color  Peter's  hat, 

And  Walter's  dagger  was  not  come  from  theathing; 

There  were  none  fine,  but  Adam,  Ralph,  and  Gregory. 

Shakespeare. 

After  winding  along  the  side  of  the  mountain,  the  road, 
on  reaching  the  gentle  declivity  which  lay  at  the  base  of  the 
hill,  turned  at  a  right  angle  to  its  former  course,  and  shot 
down  an  inclined  plane,  directly  into  the  village  of  Tem- 
pleton.  The  rapid  little  stream  that  w*e  have  already  men- 
tioned, was  crossed  by  a  bridge  of  hewn  timber,  which 
manifested,  by  its  rude  construction  and  the  unnecessary 
size  of  its  framework,  both  the  value  of  labor  and  the 
abundance  of  materials.  This  little  torrent,  whose  dark 
waters  gushed  over  the  limestones  that  lined  its  bottom, 
was  nothing  less  than  one  of  the  many  sources  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna; a  river  to  which  the  Atlantic  herself  has  ex- 
tended an  arm  in  welcome.  It  was  at  this  point  that  the 
powerful  team  of  Mr.  Jones  brought  him  up  to  the  more 
sober  steeds  of  our  travellers.  A  small  hill  was  risen,  and 
Elizabeth  found  herself  at  once  amid  the  incongruous 
dwellings  of  the  village.  The  street  was  of  the  ordinary 
width,  notwithstanding  the  eye*  might  embrace,  in  one 
view,  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  acres,  that  were 
yet  tenanted  only  by  the  beasts  of  the  forest.  But  such 
had  been  the  will  of  her  father,  and  such  had  also  met  the 
wishes  of  his  followers.  To  them  the  roaa,  that  made  the 
most  rapid  approaches  to  the  condition  of  the  old,  or,  as 
they  expressed  it,  the  down  countries,  was  the  most  pleas- 
ant; and  surely,  nothing  could  look  more  like  civilization 
than  a  city,  even  if  it  lay  in  a  wilderness !  The  width  of 
the  street,  for  so  it  was  called,  might  have  been  one  hundred 
feet ;  but  the  track  for  the  sleighs  was  much  more  limited. 
On  either  side  of  the  highway  were  piled  huge  heaps  of 
logs  that  were  daily  increasing  rather  than  diminishing  in 
size,  notwithstanding  the  enormous  fires  that  might  be 
seen  through  every  window. 


THE  PIONEERS, 


St 


The  last  object  at  which  Elizabeth  gazed  when  they  re- 
newed their  journey,  after  the  rencontre  with  Richard,  was 
the  sun,  as  it  expanded  in  the  refraction  of  the  horizon, 
and  over  whose  disk  the  dark  umbrage  of  a  pine  was  steal- 
ing, while  it  slowly  sank  behind  the  western  hills.  But  his 
setting  rays  darted  along  the  openings  of  the  mountain  she 
was  on,  and  lighted  the  shining  covering  of  the  birches, 
until  their  smooth  and  glossy  coats  nearly  rivalled  the 
mountain-sides  in  color.    The  outline  of  each  dark  pine 
was  delineated  far  in  the  depths  of  the  forest;  and  the 
rocks,  too  smooth  and  too  perpendicular  to  retain  the  snow 
that  had  fallen,  brightened,  as  if  smiling  at  the  leave-tak- 
ing of  the  luminary.    But  at  each  step,  as  they  descended, 
Elizabeth  observed  that  they  were  leaving  the  day  behind 
them.    Even  the  heartless  hut  bright  rays  of  a  December 
sun  were  missed,  as  they  glided  into  the  cold  gloom  of  the 
valley.    Along  the  summits  of  the  mountains  in  the  east- 
ern range,  it  is  true,  the  light  still  lingered,  receding  step 
by  step  from  the  earth  into  the  clouds  that  were  gather- 
ing, with  the  evening  mist,  about  the  limited  horizon ;  but 
the  frozen  lake  lay  without  a  shadow  on  its  bosom;  the 
dwellings  were  becoming  already  gloomy  and  indistinct; 
and  the  wood-cutters  were  shouldering  their  axes,  and  pre- 
paring to  enjoy,  throughout  the  long  evening  before  them, 
the  comforts  of  those  exhilarating  fires  that  their  labor 
had  been  supplying  with  fuel.    They  paused  only  to  gaze 
at  the  passing  sleighs,  to  lift  their  caps  to  Marmaduke,  to 
exchange  familiar  nods  with  Richard,  and  each  disappeared 
in  his  dwelling.    The  paper  curtains  dropped  behind  our 
travellers  in  every  window,  shutting  from  the  air  even  the 
fire-light  of  the  cheerful  apartments ;  and  when  the  horses 
of  her  father  turned,  with  a  rapid  whirl,  into  the  open  gate 
of  tne  Mansion-house,  and  nothing  stood  before  her  but 
the  cold,  dreary  stone  walls  of  the  building,  as  she  ap- 
proached them  through  an  avenue  of  young  and  leafless 
poplars,  Elizabeth  felt  as  if  all  the  loveliness  of  the  moun- 
tain-view had  vanished  like  the  fancies  of  a  dream.  Mar- 
maduke retained  so  much  of  his  early  habits  as  to  reject 
the  use  of  bells ;  but  the  equipage  of  Mr.  J  ones  came  dash- 
ing through  the  gate  after  them,  sending  its  jingling  sound 
through  every  cranny  of  the  building,  and  in  a  moment 
the  dwelling  was  in  an  uproar. 

On  a  stone  platform,  of  rather  small  proportions,  con- 
sidering the  size  of  the  building,  Richard  and  Hiramj^a^ 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

U.  OF  iUL  LIB 

AT  URBAN  A-  CHAMPAIGN 


5? 


THE  PIONEERS. 


conjointly,  reared  four  little  columns  of  wood,  which  in 
their  turn  supported  the  shingled  roofs  of  the  portico — 
this  was  the  name  that  Mr.  Jones  had  thought  proper  to 
give  to  a  very  plain  covered  entrance.  The  ascent  to  the 
platform  was  by  five  or  six  stone  steps,  somewhat  hastily 
laid  together,  and  which  the  frost  had  already  begun  to 
move  from  their  symmetrical  positions.  But  the  evils  of 
a  cold  climate,  and  a  superficial  construction)  did  not  end 
here.  As  the  steps  lowered,  the  platform  necessarily  fell 
also,  and  the  foundations  actually  left  the  superstructure 
suspended  in  the  air,  leaving  an  open  space  of  a  foot  be- 
tween the  base  of  the  pillars  and  the  stones  on  which  they 
had  originally  been  placed.  It  was  lucky  for  the  whole 
fabric  that  the  carpenter,  who  did  the  manual  part  of  the 
labor,  had  fastened  the  canopy  of  this  classic  entrance  so 
firmly  to  the  side  of  the  house,  that,  when  the  base  de- 
serted the  superstructure  in  the  manner  we  have  described, 
and  the  pillars,  for  the  want  of  a  foundation,  were  no 
longer  of  service  to  support  the  roof,  the  roof  was  able  to 
uphold  the  pillars.  Here  was,  indeed,  an  unfortunate  gap 
left  in  the  ornamental  part  of  Kichard's  column ;  but,  like 
the  window  in  Aladdin's  palace,  it  seemed  only  left  in 
order  to  prove  the  fertility  of  its  master's  resources.  The 
composite  order  again  offered  its  advantages,  and  a  second 
edition  of  the  base  was  given,  as  the  booksellers  say,  with 
additions  .and  improvements.  It  was  necessarily  'larger, 
and  it  was  properly  ornamented  with  mouldings ;  still,  the 
steps  continued  to  yield,  and,  at  the  moment  when  Eliza- 
beth returned  to  her  father  s  door,  a  few  rough  wedges 
were  driven  under  the  pillars  to  keep  them  steady,  and  to 
prevent  their  weight  from  separating  them  from  the  pedi- 
ment which  they  ought  to  have  supported. 

From  the  great  door  which  opened  into  the  porch 
emerged  two  or  three  female  domestics,  and  one  male. 
The  latter  was  bare-headed,  but  evidently  more  dressed 
than  usual,  and,  on  the  whole,  was  of  so  singular  a  forma- 
tion and  attire,  as  to  deserve  a  more  minute  description. 
He  was  about  five  feet  in  height,  of  a  square  and  athletic 
frame,  with  a  pair  of  shoulders  that  would  have  fitted  a 
grenadier.  His  low  stature  was  rendered  the  more  strik- 
ing by  a  bend  forward  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of  assum- 
ing, for  no  apparent  reason,  unless  it  might  be  to  give 
greater  freedom  to  his  arms,  in  a  particularly  sweeping 
swing,  that  they  constantly  practiced  when  their  master 


THE  PIONEERS. 


53 


was  in  motion.  His  face  was  long,  of  a  fair  complexion, 
burnt  to  a  fiery  red;  with  a  snub  nose,  cooked  into  an  in- 
veterate pug;  a  mouth  of  enormous  dimensions,  filled 
with  fine  teeth;  and  a  pair  of  blue  eyes  that  seemed  to  look 
about  them,  on  surrounding  objects,  with  habitual  con- 
tempt. His  head  composed  full  one  fourth  of  his  whole 
length,  and  the  queue  that  depended  from  its  rear  occupied 
another.  He  wore  a  coat  of  very  light  drab  cloth,  with 
buttons  as  large  as  dollars,  bearing  the  impression  of  a 
"  foul  anchor/'  The  skirts  were  extremely  long,  reaching 
quite  to  the  calf,  and  were  broad  in  proportion.  Beneath, 
there  were  a  vest  and  breeches  of  red  plush,  somewhat 
worn  and  soiled.  He  had  shoes  with  large  buckles,  and 
stockings  of  blue  and  white  stripes. 

This  odd-looking  figure  reported  himself  to  be  a  native 
of  the  county  of  Cornwall,  in  the  island  of  Great  Britain. 
His  boyhood  had  passed  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  tin 
mines,  and  his  youth  as  the  cabin-boy  of  a  smuggler,  be- 
tween Falmouth  and  Guernsey.  From  this  trade  he  had 
been  impressed  into  the  service  of  his  king,  and,  for  the 
want  of  a  better,  had  been  taken  into  the  cabin,  first  as  a 
servant,  and  finally  as  steward  to  the  captain.  Here  he 
acquired  the  art  of  making  chowder,  lobscouse,  and  one 
or  two  other  sea-dishes,  and,  as  he  was  fond  of  saying,  had 
an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  world.  With  the  exception 
of  one  or  two  out-ports  in  France,  and  an  occasional  visit 
to  Portsmouth,  Plymouth,  anil  Deal,  he  had  in  reality  seen 
no  more  of  mankind,  however,  than  if  he  had  been  riding  a 
donkey  in  one  of  his  native  mines.  But,  being  discharged 
from  the  navy  at  the  peace  of  '83,  he  declared  that,  as  he 
had  seen  all  the  civilized  parts  of  the  earth,  he  was  inclined 
to  make  a  trip  to  the  wilds  of  America.  We  will  not  trace 
him  in  his  brief  wanderings,  under  the  influence  of  that 
spirit  of  emigration  that  sometimes  induces  a  dapper 
cockney  to  quit  his  home,  and  lands  him,  before  the  sound 
of  Bow  bells  is  out  of  his  ears,  within  the  roar  of  the  cata- 
ract of  Niagara;  but  shall  only  add,  that,  at  a  very  early 
day,  even  before  Elizabeth  had  been  sent  to  school,  he  had 
found  his  way  into  the  family  of  Marmaduke  Temple, 
where,  owing  to  a  combination  of  qualities  that  will  be  de- 
veloped in  the  course  of  the  tale,  he  held,  under  Mr.  Jonev. 
the  office  of  major-domo.  The  name  of  this  worthy  was 
Benjamin  Penguillan,  according  to  his  own  pronunciation ; 
but,  owing  to  a  marvelous  tale  that  he  was  in  the  habit 


54 


THE  PIONEERS. 


of  relating,  concerning  the  length  of  time  he  had  to  labor 
to  keep  his  ship  from  sinking  after  Rodney's  victory,  he 
had  universally  acquired  the  nickname  of  Ben  Pump. 

By  the  side  of  Benjamin,  and  pressing  forward  as  if  a 
little  jealous  of  her  station,  stood  a  middle-aged  woman, 
dressed  in  calico,  rather  violently  contrasted  in  color  with 
a  tall,  meagre,  shapeless  figure,  sharp  features,  and  a  some- 
what acute  expression  of  her  physiognomy.  Her  teeth 
were  mostly  gone,  and  what  did  remain  were  of  a  light 
yellow.  The  skin  of  her  nose  was  drawn  tightly  over  the 
member,  to  hang  in  large  wrinkles  in  her  cheeks  and  about 
her  mouth.  She  took  snuff  in  such  quantities,  as  to  create 
the  impression  that  she  owed  the  saffron  of  her  lips  and 
the  adjacent  parts  to  this  circumstance;  but  it  was  the 
unvarying  color  of  her  whole  face.  She  presided  over 
the  female  part  of  the  domestic  arrangements,  in  the 
capacity  of  housekeeper ;  was  a  spinster,  and  bore  the 
-name  of  RemarkableTettibone.  To  Elizabeth  she  was  an 
entire  stranger,  having  been  introduced  into  the  family 
since  the  death  of  her  mother. 

In  addition  to  these,  were  three  or  four  subordinate 
menials,  mostly  black,  some  appearing  at  the  principal 
door,  and  some  running  from  the  end  of  the  building, 
where  stood  the  entrance  to  the  cellar-kitchen. 

Besides  these,  there  was  a  general  rush  from  Richard's 
kennel,  accompanied  with  every  canine  tone,  from  the  howl 
^of  the  wolf-dog  to  the  petula/it  bark  of  the  terrier.  The 
master  received  their  boisterous  salutations  with  a  variety 
of  imitations  from  his  own  throat,  when  the  dogs,  proba*- 
bly  from  shame  of  being  outdone,  ceased  their  outcry. 
One  stately  powerful  mastiff,  who  wore  round  his  neck  a 
brass  collar,  with  "  M.  T."  engraved  in  large  letters  on  the 
rim,  alone  was  silent.  He  walked  majestically  amid  the 
confusion,  to  the  side  of  the  Judge,  where,  receiving  a 
kind  pat  or  two,  he  turned  to  Elizabeth,  who  even  stooped 
to  kiss  him,  as  she  called  him  kindly  by  the  name  of  "  Old 
Brave."  The  animal  seemed  to  know  her,  as  she  ascended 
the  steps,  supported  by  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  and  her  father, 
in  order  to  protect  her  from  falling  on  the  ice  with  which 
they  were  covered.  He  looked  wistfully  after  her  figure, 
and  when  the  door  closed  on  the  whole  party,  he  laid  him- 
self in  a  kennel  that  was  placed  nigh  by,  as  if  conscious 
that  the  house  contained  something  of  additional  value  to 
guard. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


55 


Elizabeth  followed  her  father,  who  paused  a  moment  to 
whisper  a  message  to  one  of  his  domestics,  into  a  lar^o 
hall,  that  was  dimly  lighted  by  two  candles,  placed  in  high, 
old-fashioned,  brass  candlesticks.  The  door  closed,  and 
the  party  were  at  once  removed  from  an  atmosphere  that 
was  nearly  at  zero,  to  one  of  sixty  degrees  above.  In  the 
centre  of  the  hall  stood  an  enormous  stove,  the  sides  of 
which  appeared  to  be  quivering  with  heat ;  from  which  a 
large,  straight  pipe,  leading  through  the  ceiling  above, 
carried  off  the  smoke.  An  iron  basin,  containing  water, 
was  placed  on  this  furnace,  for  such  only  it  could  be 
called,  in  order  to  preserve  a  proper  humidity  in  the  apart- 
ment. The  room  was  carpeted,  and  furnished  with  con- 
venient, substantial  furniture,  some  of  which  was  brought 
from  the  city,  and  the  remainder  having  been  manufactured 
by  the  mechanics  of  Templeton.  There  was  a  sideboard 
of  mahogany,  inlaid  with  ivory,  and  bearing  enormous 
handles  of  glittering  brass,  and  groaning  under  the  piles 
of  silver  plate.  Near  it  stood  a  set  of  .prodigious  tables, 
made  of  the  wild  cherry,  to  imitate  the  imported  wood  of 
the  sideboard,  but  plain,  and  without  ornament  of  any 
kind.  Opposite  to  these  stood  a  smaller  table,  formed 
from  a  lighter-colored  wood,  through  the  grains  of  which 
the  wavy  lines  of  the  curled  maple  of  the  mountains  were 
beautifully  undulating.  Near  to  this,  in  a  corner,  stood  a 
heavy,  old-fashioned,  brass-faced  clock,  encased  in  a  high 
box,  of  the  dark  hue  of  the  black  walnut  from  the  sea- 
shore. An  enormous  settee,  or  sofa,  covered  with  light 
chintz,  stretched  along  the  walls  for  near  twenty  feet  on 
one  side  of  the  hall;  and  chairs  of  wood,  painted  a  light 
yellow,  with  black  lines  that  were  drawn  by  no  very  steady 
hand,  were  ranged  opposite,  and  in  the  intervals  between 
the  other  pieces  of  furniture.  A  Fahrenheit's  thermome- 
ter, in  a  mahogany  case,  and  with  a  barometer  annexed, 
was  hung  against  the  wall,  at  some  little  distance  from  the 
stove,  which  Benjamin  consulted,  every  half-hour,  with 
prodigious  exactitude.  Two  small  glass  chandeliers  were 
suspended  at  equal  distances  between  the  stove  and  the 
outer  doors,  one  of  which  opened  at  each  end  of  the  hall, 
and  gilt  lustres  were  affixed  to  the  framework  of  the 
numerous  side  doors  that  led  from  the  apartment.  Some 
little  display  in  architecture  had  been  made  in  construct- 
ing these  frames  and  casings,  which  were  surmounted  with 
pediments,  that  bore  each  a  little  pedestal  in  its  centre: 


$6 


THE  PIONEERS. 


on  these  pedestals  were  small  busts  in  blacked  plaster 
of  Paris.  The  style  of  the  pedestals,  as  well  as  the  selec- 
tions of  the  busts,  were  all  due  to  the  taste  of  Mr.  Jones. 
On  one  stood  Homer,  a  most  striking  likeness,  Richard 
affirmed,  "as  any  one  might  see,  for  it  was  blind."  An- 
other bore  the  image  of  a  smooth-visaged  gentleman  with 
a  pointed  beard,  whom  he  called  Shakespeare.  A  third 
ornament  was  an  urn,  which  from  its  shape,  Richard  was 
accustomed  to  say,  intended  to  represent  itself  as  holding 
the  ashes  of  Dido.  A  fourth  was  certainly  old  Franklin, 
in  his  cap  and  spectacles.  A  fifth  as  surely  bore  the  dig- 
nified composure  of  the  face  of  Washington.  A  sixth  was 
a  nondescript,  representing  "a  man  with  a  shirt  collar 
open,"  to  use  the  language  of  Richard,  "  with  a  laurel  on 
his  head;  it  was  Julius  Caesar  or  Dr.  Faustus;  there  were 
good  reasons  for  believing  either." 

The  walls  were  hung  with  a  dark,  lead-colored  English 
paper  that  represented  Britannia  weeping  over  the  tomb 
of  Wolfe.  The  hero  himself  stood  at  a  little  distance  from 
the  mourning  goddess,  and  at  the  edge  of  the  paper.  Each 
width  contained  the  figure,  with  the  slight  exception  of 
one  arm  of  the  General,  which  ran  over  on  the  next  piece, 
so  that  when  Richard  essayed,  with  his  own  hands,  to  put 
together  this  delicate  outline,  some  difficulties  occurred 
that  prevented  a  nice  conjunction;  and  Britannia  had 
reason  to  lament,  in  addition  to  the  loss  of  her  favorite's 
life,  numberless  cruel  amputations  of  his  right  arm. 

The  luckless  cause  of  these  unnatural  divisions  now  an- 
nounced his  presence  in  the  hall  by  a  loud  crack  of  his 
whip. 

"  Why,  Benjamin !  you  Ben  Pump !  is  this  the  manner 
in  which  you  receive  the  heiress  ? "  he  cried.  "  Excuse 
him,  cousin  Elizabeth.  The  arrangements  were  too  intri- 
cate to  be  trusted  to  every  one ;  but  now  I  am  here,  things 
will  go  on  better.  Come,  light  up,  Mr.  Penguillan,  light 
up,  light  up,  and  let  us  see  one  another's  faces.  Well, 
Duke,  I  have  brought  home  your  deer;  what  is  to  be  done 
with  it,  ha?" 

"  By  the  Lord,  Squire,"  commenced  Benjamin  in  reply, 
first  giving  his  mouth  a  wipe  with  the  back  of  his  hand, 
"if  this  here  tiling  had  been  ordered  sum'at  earlier  in  the 
day,  it  might  have  been  got  up,  d'ye  see,  to  your  liking. 
I  had  mustered  all  hands,  and  was  exercising  candles,  when 
you  hove  in  sight;  but  when  the  women  heard  your  bells 


THE  PIONEERS. 


57 


they  started  an  end,  as  if  they  were  riding  the  boat-swain's 
colt;  and,  if-so-be  there  is  that  man  in  the  house,  who  can 
bring  up  a  parcel  of  women  when  they  have  got  headway 
on  them,  until  they've  run  out  the  end  of  their  rope,  his 
name  is  not  Benjamin  Pump.  But  Miss  Betsey  here  must 
have  altered  more  than  a  privateer  in  disguise,  since  she 
has  got  on  her  woman's  duds,  if  she  will  take  offense  with 
an  old  fellow  for  the  small  matter  of  lighting  a  few  candles." 

Elizabeth  and  her  father  continued  silent,  for  both  ex- 
perienced the  same  sensation  on  entering  the  hall.  The 
former  had  resided  one  year  in  the  building  before  she  left 
home  for  school,  and  the  figure  of  its  lamented  mistress 
was  missed  by  both  husband  and  child. 

But  candles  had  been  placed  in  the  chandeliers  and 
lustres,  and  the  attendants  were  so  far  recovered  from  sur- 
prise as  to  recollect  their  use;  the  oversight  was  imme- 
diately remedied,  and  in  a  minute  the  apartment  was  in  a 
blaze  of  light. 

The  slight  melancholy  of  our  heroine  and  her  father 
was  banished  by  this  brilliant  interruption ;  and  the  whole 
party  began  to  lay  aside  the  numberless  garments  they  had 
worn  in  the  air. 

During  this  operation,  Richard  kept  up  a  desultory  dia- 
logue with  the  different  domestics,  occasionally  throwing 
out  a  remark  to  the  Judge  concerning  the  deer;  but  as 
his  conversation  at  such  moments  was  much  like  an  accom- 
paniment on  a  piano,  a  thing  that  is  heard  without  being 
attended  to,  we  will  not  undertake  the  task  of  recording 
his  diffuse  discourse. 

The  instant  that  Remarkable  Pettibone  had  executed 
her  portion  of  the  labor  in  illuminating,  she  returned  to  a 
position  near  Elizabeth,  with  the  apparent  motive  of  re- 
ceiving the  clothes  that  the  other  threw  aside,  but  in  reality 
to  examine,  with  an  air  of  curiosity,  not  unmixed  with 
jealousy,  the  appearance  of  the  lady  who  was  to  supplant 
her  in  the  administration  of  their  domestic  economy.  The 
housekeeper  felt  a  little  appalled,  when,  after  cloaks,  coats, 
shawls,  and  socks  had  been  taken  off  in  succession,  the 
large  black  hood  was  removed,  and  the  dark  ringlets,  shin- 
ing like  the  raven's  wing,* fell  from  her  head,  and  left  the 
sweet  but  commanding  features  of  the  young  lady  exposed 
to  view.  Nothing  could  be  fairer  and  more  spotless  than 
the  forehead  of  Elizabeth,  and  preserve  the  appearance  of 
life  and  health,  Her  nose  would  have  been  called  Grecian, 


58 


THE  PIONEERS. 


but  for  a  softly  rounded  swell,  that  gave  in  character  to 
the  feature  what  it  lost  in  beauty.  Her  mouth,  at  first 
sight,  seemed  only  made  for  love;  but  the  instant  that  its 
muscles  moved,  every  expression  that  womanly  dignity 
could  utter  played  around  it  with  the  flexibility  of  female 
grace.  It  spoke  not  only  to  the  ear  but  to  the  eye.  So 
much,  added  to  a  form  of  exquisite  proportions,  rather  full 
and  rounded  for  her  years,  and  of  the  tallest  medium 
height,  she  inherited  from  her  mother.  Even  the  color  of 
her  eye,  the  arched  brows,  and  the  long  silken  lashes,  came 
from  the  same  source ;  but  its  expression  was  her  father's. 
Inert  and  composed,  it  was  soft,  benevolent,  and  attrac- 
tive; but  it  could  be  roused,  and  that  without  much  diffi- 
culty. At  such  moments  it  was  still  beautiful,  though  it 
was  a  little  severe.  As  the  last  shawl  fell  aside,  and  she 
stood  dressed  in  a  rich  blue  riding-habit,  that  fitted  her 
form  with  the  nicest  exactness;  her  cheeks  burning  with 
roses,  that  bloomed  the  richer  for  the  heat  of  the  hall,  and 
her  eyes  slightly  suffused  with  moisture  that  rendered  their 
ordinary  beauty  more  dazzling,  and  with  every  feature  of 
her  speaking  countenance  illuminated  by  the  lights  that 
flared  around  her,  Remarkable  felt  that  her  own  power 
had  ended. 

The  business  of  unrobing  had  been  simultaneous.  Mar- 
maduke  appeared  in  a  suit  of  plain  neat  black ;  Monsieur 
Le  Quoi,  in  a  coat  of  snuff  color,  covering  a  vest  of  em- 
broidery, with  breeches,  and  silk  stockings,  and  buckles — 
that  were  commonly  thought  to  be  of  paste.  Major  Hart- 
mann  wore  a  coat  of  sky-blue,  with  large  brass  buttons,  a 
club-wig,  and  boots;  and  Mr.  Richard  Jones  had  set  off  his 
dapper  little  form  in  a  frock  of  bottle-green,  with  bullet- 
buttons,  by  one  of  which  the  sides  were  united  over  his 
well-rounded  waist,  opening  above,  so  as  to  show  a  jacket 
of  red  cloth,  with  an  under-vest  of  flannel,  faced  with  green 
velvet,  and  below,  so  as  to  exhibit  a  pair  of  buckskin 
brecehes,  with  long,  soiled,  white  top-boots,  and  spurs; 
one  of  the  latter  a  little  bent,  from  its  recent  attacks  on 
the  stool. 

When  the  young  lady  had  extricated  herself  from  her 
garments,  she  was  at  liberty  to  'gaze  about  her,  and  to  ex- 
amine not  only  the  household  over  which  she  was  to  pre- 
side, but  also  the  air  and  manner  in  which  their  domestic 
arrangements  were  conducted.  Although  there  was  much 
incongruity  in  the  furniture  and  appearance  of  the  hall, 


THE  PIONEERS.  59 


there  was  nothing  mean.  The  floor  was  carpeted,  even  m 
its  remotest  corners.  The  brass  candlesticks,  the  gilt  lus- 
tres and  the  glass  chandeliers,  whatever  might  be  their 
keepinq  as  to  propriety  and  taste,  were  admirably  kept  as 
to  all  the  purposes  of  use  and  comfort.  They  were  clean 
and  glittering  in  the  strong  light  of  the  apartment.  Urn- 
pared  with  the  chill  aspect  of  the  December  night  without, 
the  warmth  and  brilliancy  of  the  apartment  produced  an 
effect  that  was  not  unlike  enchantment.  Her  eye  had  not 
time  to  detect  in  detail  the  little  errors,  which,  m  truth, 
existed,  but  was  glancing  around  her  m  delight,  when  an 
object  arrested  her  view,  that  was  in  strong  contrast  to  the 
smiling  faces  and  neatly  attired  personages  who  had  thus 
assembled  to  do  honor  to  the  heiress  of  Templeton 

In  a  corner  of  the  hall  near  the  grand  entrance,  stood  the 
voung  hunter,  unnoticed,  and  for  the  moment  apparently 
forgotten.  But  even  the  f orgetf ulness  of  the  J udge  which, 
under  the  influence  of  strong  emotion,  had  banished  the 
recollection  of  the  wound  of  this  stranger  seemed  sur- 
passed by  the  absence  of  mind  in  the  youth  himselt.  Un 
entering  the  apartment  he  had  mechanically  lifted  his  cap, 
and  exposed  a  head  covered  with  hair  that  rivalled  in  color 
and  gloss  the  locks  of  Elizabeth.  Nothing  _  could  have 
wrought  a  greater  transformation  than  the  single  act  oi 
removing  the  rough  foxskin  cap.  If  there  was  much  that 
was  prepossessing  in  the  countenance  of  the  young  hunter 
there  was  something  even  noble  in  the  rounded  outlines  ot 
his  head  and  brow.  The  very  air  and  manner  with  which 
the  member  haughtily  maintained  itself  over  the  coarse 
and  even  wild  attire  in  which  the  rest  of  his  frame  was 
clad,  bespoke  not  only  familiarity  with  a  splendor  that  m 
those  new  settlements  was  thought  to  be  unequaled,  but 
something  very  like  contempt  also. 

The  hand  that  held  the  cap  rested  lightly  on  the  little 
ivory-mounted  piano  of  Elizabeth,  with  neither  rustic  re- 
straint nor  obtrusive  vulgarity.  A  single  finger  touched 
the  instrument,  as  if  accustomed  to  dwell  on  such  places. 
His  other  arm  was  extended  to  its  utmost  length,  and 
the  hand  grasped  the  barrel  of  his  long  rifle  with  some- 
thing like  convulsive  energy.  The  act  and  the  attitude 
were  both  involuntary,  and  evidently  proceeded  from  a 
feeling  much  deeper  than  that  of  vulgar  surprise^  His 
appearance,  connected  as  it  was  with  the  rough  exterior  ot 
his  dress,  rendered  him  entirely  distinct  from  the  busy 


60  THE  PIONEERS. 

group  that  were  moving  across  the  other  end  of  the  long 
hall,  occupied  in  receiving  the  travellers,  and  exchanging 
their  welcomes;  and  Elizabeth  continued  to  gaze  at  him 
in  wonder.  The  contraction  of  the  stranger's  brows  in- 
creased as  his  eyes  moved  slowly  from  one  object  to  an- 
other. For  moments  the  expression  of  his  countenance 
was  fierce,  and  then  again  it  seemed  to  pass  away  in  some 
painful  emotion.  The  arm  that  was  extended  bent,  and 
brought  the  hand  nigh  to  his  face,  when  his  head  dropped 
upon  it,  and  concealed  the  wonderfully  speaking  linea- 
ments. 

<  "  We  forget,  dear  sir,  the  strange  gentleman  "—for  her 
life  Elizabeth  could  not  call  him  otherwise — "whom  we 
have  brought  here  for  assistance,  and  to  whom  we  owe 
every  attention." 

All  eyes  were  instantly  turned  in  the  direction  of  those 
of  the  speaker,  and  the  youth  rather  proudly  elevated  his 
head  again,  while  he  answered, — 

"  My  wound  is  trifling,  and  I  believe  that  Judge  Temple 
sent  for  a  physician  the  moment  we  arrived." 

"Certainly,"  said  Marmaduke;  "I  have  not  forgotten 
the  object  of  thy  visit,  young  man,  nor  the  nature  of  my 
debt/' 

"Oh!"  exclaimed  Richard,  with  something  of  a  wag- 
gish leer,  "  thou  owest  the  lad  for  the  venison,  I  suppose, 
that  thou  killed,  cousin  'Duke  !  Marmaduke  !  Marma- 
duke! That  was  a  marvelous  tale  of  thine  about  the 
buck  !  Here,  young  man,  are  two  dollars  for  the  deer, 
and  J udge  Temple  can  do  no  less  than  pay  the  doctor.  I 
shall  charge  you  nothing  for  my  services,  but  you  shall 
not  fare  the  worse  for  that.  Come,  come,  'Duke,  don't  be 
down-hearted  about  it :  if  you  missed  the  buck,  you  con- 
trived to  shoot  this  poor  fellow  through  a  pine  tree.  Now 
1  own  that  you  have  beat  me  ;  I  never  did  such  a  thing  in 
all  my  life." 

"And  I  hope  never  will,"  returned  the  Judge,  "  if  you 
are  to  experience  the  uneasiness  that  I  have  suffered.  But 
be  of  good  cheer,  my  young  friend,  the  injury  must  be 
small,  as  thou  movest  thy  arm  with  apparent  freedom." 

"  Don't  make  the  matter  worse,  'Duke,  by  pretending  to 
talk  about  surgery,"  interrupted  Mr.  Jones,  with  a  con- 
temptuous wave  of  the  hand;  "  it  is  a  science  that  can  only 
be  learnt  by  practice.  You  know  that  my  grandfather 
was  a  doctor,  but  you  haven't  got  a  drop  of  medical  blood 


THE  PIONEERS. 


6l 


in  your  veins.  These  kind  of  things  run  in  families.  All 
my  family  by  the  father's  side  had  a  knack  at  physic. 
There  was  my  uncle  that  was  killed  at  Brandy  wine,— he 
died  as  easy  again  as  any  other  man  in  the  regiment,  just 
from,  knowing  how  to  hold  his  breath  naturally.  Few 
men  know  how  to  breathe  naturally." 

"I  doubt  not,  Dickon,"  returned  the  Judge,  meeting 
the  bright  smile  which,  in  spite  of  himself,  stole  over  the 
stranger's  features,  "that  thy  family  thoroughly  under- 
stood the  art  of  letting  life  slip  through  their  fingers." 

Richard  heard  him  quite  coolly,  and  putting  a  hand  in 
either  pocket  of  his  surtout,  so  as  to  press  forward  the 
skirts,  began  to  whistle  a  tune;  but  the  desire  to  reply 
overcame  his  philosophy,  and  with  great  heat  he  ex- 
claimed : — 

"  You  may  aifect  to  smile,  Judge  Tempie,  at  nereditary 
virtues,  if  you  please :  but  there  is  not  a  man  on  your 
Patent  who  don't  know  better.  Here,  even  this  young- 
man,  who  has  never  seen  anything  but  bears,  and-  deer, 
and  woodchucks,  knows  better  than  to  believe  virtues  are 
not  transmitted  in  families.    Don't  you,  friend  ?  " 

"  I  believe  that  vice  is  not,"  said  the  stranger  abruptly, 
his  eye  glancing  from  the  father  to  the  daughter. 

"  The  Squire  is  right,  Judge,"  observed  Benjamin,  with 
a  knowing  nod  of  his  head  towards  Richard,  that  bespoke 
the  cordiality  between  them.  "  Now,  in  the  old  country, 
the  king's  Majesty  touches  for  the  evil,  and  that  is  a  dis- 
order that  the  greatest  doctor  in  the  fleet,  or,  for  the 
matter  of  that,  admiral  either,  can't  cure ;  only  the  king's 
Majesty  or  a  man  that's  been  hanged.  Yes,  the  Squire  is 
right,  for  if  so  be  that  he  wasn't,  how  is  it  that  the  seventh 
son  always  is  a  doctor,  whether  he  ships  for  the  cock-pit 
or  not  ?  Now,  when  we  fell  in  with  the  mounsheers,  under 
De  Grasse,  d'ye  see,  we  had  aboard  of  us  a  doctor  " — 

"  Very  well,  Benjamin,"  interrupted  Elizabeth,  glancing 
her  eyes  from  the  hunter  to  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  who  was 
most  politely  attending  to  what  fell  from  each  individual 
in  succession, "  you  shall  tell  me  of  that,  and  all  your  enter- 
taining adventures  together;  just  now,  a  room  must  be 
prepared,  in  which  the  arm  of  this  gentleman  can  be 
dressed." 

"  I  will  attend  to  that  myself,  cousin  Elizabeth,"  observed 
Richard,  somewhat  haughtily.  "  The  young  man  shall  not 
suffer  because  Marmaduke  chooses  to  be  a  little  obstinate 


62 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Follow  me,  my  friend,  and  I  will  examine  the  hurt  my- 
self." J 

"It  will  be  well  to  wait  for  the  physician,"  saia  the 
hunter,  coldly;  "he  cannot  be  distant." 

Richard  paused  and  looked  at  the  speaker,  a  little  aston- 
ished at  the  language,  and  a  good  deal  appalled  at  the  re- 
fusal. He  construed  the  latter  into  an  act  of  hostility,  and 
placing  his  hands  in  the  pockets  again,  he  walked  up  to 
Mr.  Grant,  and  putting  his  face  close  to  the  countenance 
of  the  divine,  said  in  an  under-tone, — 

"  Now,  mark  my  words :  there  will  be  a  story  among  the 
settlers,  that  all  our  necks  would  have  been  broken  but 
for  that  fellow,  as  if  I  did  not  know  how  to  drive.  Why, 
you  might  have  turned  the  horses  yourself,  sir;  nothing 
was  easier;  it  was  only  pulling  hard*on  the  nigh  rein,  and 
touching  the  off  flank  of  the  leader.  I  hope,  my  dear  sir, 
you  are  not  at  all  hurt  by  the  upset  the  lad  gave  us  ?  " 

The  reply  was  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  the  village 
physician. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

And  about  his  shelves, 
A  beggarly  account  of  emptj'  boxes, 
Green  earthen  pots,  bladders,  and  musty  seeds, 
Remnants  of  packthread,  and  old  cakes  of  roses, 
Were  thinly  scattered  to  make  up  a  show.  Shakespeare. 

Doctor  El^athan  Todd,  for  such  was  the  name  of  the 
man  of  physic,  was  commonly  thought  to  be,  among  the 
settlers,  a  gentleman  of  great  mental  endowments ;  and  he 
was  assuredly  of  rare  personal  proportions.  In  height  he 
measured,  without  his  shoes,  exactly  six  feet  and  four 
inches.  His  hands,  feet,  and  knees  corresponded  in  every 
respect  with  this  formidable  stature;  but  every  other  part 
of  his  frame  appeared  to  have  been  intended  for  a  man 
several  sizes  smaller,  if  we  except  the  length  of  the  limbs. 
His  shoulders  were  square,  in  one  sense  at  least,  being  in 
a  right  line  from  one  side  to  the  other;  but  they  were  so 
narrow,  that  the  long  dangling  arms  they  supported 
seemed  to  issue  out  of  his  back.  His  neck  possessed,  in 
an  eminent  degree,  the  property  of  length  to  which  we 
have  alluded,  and  it  was  topped  by  a  small  bullet-head, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


that  exhibited,  on  one  side,  a  bush  of  bristling  brown  hair, 
and  on  the  other,  a  short,  twinkling  visage,  that  appeared 
to  maintain  a  constant  struggle  with  itself  in  order  to  look 
wise.    He  was  the  youngest  son  of  a  farmer  in  the  western 
part  of  Massachusetts,  who,  being  in  somewhat  easy  cir- 
cumstances, had  allowed  this  boy  to  shoot  up  to  the  height 
we  have  mentioned,  without  the  ordinary  interruptions  of 
field-labor,  wood-chopping,  and  such  other  toils  as  were 
imposed  on  his  brothers.    Elnathan  was  indebted  for  this 
exemption  from  labor  in  some  measure  to  his  extraordi- 
nary growth,  which,  leaving  him  pale,  inanimate,  and  list- 
less, induced  his  tender  mother  to  pronounce  him  "a  sickly 
boy,  and  one  that  was  not  equal  to  work,  but  who  might 
earn  a  living,  comfortably  enough,  by  taking  to  pleading 
law,  or  turning  minister,  or  doctoring,  or  some  such  like 
easy  calling."    Still  there  was  great  uncertainty  which  of 
these  vocations  the  youth  was  best  endowed  to  fill;  but, 
having  no  other  employment,  the  stripling  was  constantly 
lounging  about  the  "  homestead,"  munching  green  apples, 
and  hunting  for  sorrel ;  when  the  same  sagacious  eye  that 
had  brought  to  light  his  latent  talents,  seized  upon  this 
circumstance,  as  a  clue  to  his  future  path  through  the 
turmoils  of  the  world.    "  Elnathan  was  cut  out  for  a  doc- 
tor, she  knew,  for  he  was  forever  digging  for  herbs,  and 
tasting  all  kinds  of  things  that  growed  about  the  lots. 
Then  again  he  had  a  natural  love  for  doctor-stuff,  for  when 
she  had  left  the  bilious  pills  out  for  her  man,  all  nicely 
covered  with  maple  sugar,  just  ready  to  take,  Nathan  had 
come  in,  and  swallowed  them,  for  all  the  world  as  if  they 
were  nothing,  while  Ichabod  (her  husband)  could  never 
get  one  down  without  making  such  desperate  faces,  that  it 
was  awful  to  look  on." 

This  discovery  decided  the  matter.  Elnathan,  then 
about  fifteen,  was,  much  like  a  wild  colt,  caught  and 
trimmed  by  clipping  his  bushy  locks;  dressed  in  a  suit  of 
homespun,  dyed  in  the  butternut  bark;  furnished  with  a 
New  Testament,  and  a  Webster's  Spelling  Book,  and  sent 
to  school.  As  the  boy  was  by  nature  quite  shrewd  enough, 
and  had  previously,  at  odd  times,  laid  the  foundations  of 
reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic,  he  was  soon  conspicuous 
m  the  school  for  his  learning.  The  delighted  mother  had 
the  gratification  of  hearing,  from  the  lips  of  the  master, 
that  her  son  was  a  "  prodigious  boy,  and  far  above  all  his 
class."    He  also  thought  that  "the  youth  had  a  natural 


64 


THE  PIONEERS. 


love  for  doctoring,  as  he  had  known  him  frequently  advise 
the  smaller  children  against  eating  too  much ;  and  once  or 
twice,  when  the  ignorant  little  things  had  persevered  in 
opposition  to  Elnathan's  advice,  he  had  known  her  son 
empty  the  school-baskets  with  his  own  mouth,  to  prevent 
the  consequences." 

Soon  after  this  comfortable  declaration  from  his  school- 
master, the  lad  was  removed  to  the  house  of  the  village 
doctor,  a  gentleman  whose  early  career  had  not  been  unlike 
that  of  our  hero,  where  he  was  to  be  seen,  sometimes  water- 
ing a  horse,  at  others  watering  medicines,  blue,  yellow, 
and  red;  then  again  he  might  be  noticed,  lolling  under  an 
apple-tree,  with  Kuddiman's  Latin  Grammar  in  his  hand, 
and  a  corner  of  Denman's  Midwifery  sticking  out  of  a 
pocket;  for  his  instructor  held  it  absurd  to  teach  his  pupil 
how  to  despatch  a  patient  regularly  from  this  world,  before 
he  knew  how  to  bring  him  into  it. 

This  kind  of  life  continued  for  a  twelvemonth,  when  he 
suddenly  appeared  at  meeting  in  a  long  coat  (and  well  did 
it  deserve  the  name!)  of  black  homespun,  with  little 
bootees,  bound  with  uncolored  calfskin,  for  the  want  of 
red  morocco. 

Soon  after  he  was  seen  shaving  with  a  dull  razor.  Three 
or  four  months  had  scarce  elapsed  before  several  elderly 
ladies  were  observed  hastening  towards  the  house  of  a  poor 
woman  in  the  village,  while  others  were  running  to  and 
fro  in  great  apparent  distress.  One  or  two  boys  were 
mounted,  bareback,  on  horses,  and  sent  off  at  speed  in 
various  directions.  Several  indirect  questions  were  put 
concerning  the  place  where  the  physician  was  last  seen; 
but  all  would  not  do;  and  at  length  Elnathan  was  seen 
issuing  from  his  door  with  a  very  grave  air,  preceded  by  a 
little  white-headed  boy,  out  of  breath,  trotting  before  him. 
The  following  day  the  youth  appeared  in  the  street,  as  the 
highway  was  called,  and  the  neighborhood  was  much  edi- 
fied by  the  additional  gravity  of  his  air.  The  same  week 
he  bought  a  new  razor:  and  the  succeeding  Sunday  he 
entered  the  meeting-house  with  a  red  silk  handkerchief 
in  his  hand,  and  witli  an  extremely  demure  countenance. 
In  the  evening  he  called  upon  a  young  woman  of  his  own 
class  in  life,  for  there  were  no  others  to  be  found,  and, 
when  he  was  left  alone  with  the  fair,  he  was  called  for  the 
first  time  in  his  life,  Doctor  Todd,  by  her  prudent  mother. 
The  ice  once  broken  in  this  manner,  Elnathan  was  greeted 
from  every  mouth  with  his  official  appellation. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Another  year  passed  under  the  superintendence  of  the 
same  master,  during  which  the  young  physician  had  the 
credit  of  "riding  with  the  old  doctor,"  although  they  were 
generally  observed  to  travel  different  roads.  At  the  end 
of  that  period,  Dr.  Todd  attained  his  legal  majority.  He 
then  took  a  jaunt  to  Boston  to  purchase  medicines,  and, 
as  some  intimated,  to  walk  the  hospital ;  we  know  not  how 
the  latter  might  have  been,  but  if  true,  he  soon  walked 
through  it,  for  he  returned  within  a  fortnight,  bringing 
with  him  a  suspicious-looking  box,  that  smelled  powerfully 
of  brimstone. 

The  next  Sunday  he  was  married:  and  the  following 
morning  he  entered  a  one-horse  sleigh  with  his  bride, 
having  before  him  the  box  we  have  mentioned,  with  an- 
other filled  with  home-made  household  linen,  a  paper  cov- 
ered trunk,  with  a  red  umbrella  lashed  to  it,  a  pair  of  quite 
new  saddle-bags,  and  a  bandbox.  The  next  intelligence 
that  his  friends  received  of  the  bride  and  bridegroom  was, 
that  the  latter  was  "  settled  in  the  new  countries  and  well 
to  do  as  a  doctor,  in  Templeton,  in  York  State ! " 

If  a  Templar  would  smile  at  the  qualifications  of  Mar- 
maduke  to  fill  the  judicial  seat  he  occupied,  we  are  certain 
that  a  graduate  of  Leyden  or  Edinburgh  would  be  ex- 
tremely amused  with  this  true  narration  of  the  servitude 
of  Elnathan  in  the  temple  of  ^Esculapius.  But  the  same 
consolation  was  afforded  to  both  the  jurist  and  the  leech; 
for  Dr.  Todd  was  quite  as  much  on  a  level  with  his  com- 
peers of  the  profession,  in  that  country,  as  was  Marmaduke 
with  his  brethren  on  the  bench/ 

Time  and  practice  did  wonders  for  the  physician.  He 
was  naturally  humane,  but  possessed  of  no  small  share  of 
moral  courage;  or,  in  other  words,  he  was  chary  of  the  lives 
of  his  patients,  and  never  tried  uncertain  experiments  on 
such  members  of  society  as  were  considered  useful;  but 
once  or  twice  when  a  luckless  vagrant  had  come  under  his 
care,  he  was  a  little  addicted  to  trying  the  effects  of  every 
phial  in  his  saddle-bags  on  the  stranger's  constitution. 
Happily  their  number  was  small,  and  in  most  cases  their 
natures  innocent.  By  these  means  Elnathan  had  acquired 
a  certain  degree  of  knowledge  in  fevers  and  agues,  and 
could  talk  with  much  judgment  concerning  intermittents, 
remittents,  tertians,  quotidians,  etc.  In  certain  cutaneous 
disorders,  very  prevalent  in  new  settlements,  he  wlis^con^ 
sidered  to  be  infallible;  and  there  was  no  woman  on  the 
3 


66 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Patent,  but  would  as  soon  think  of  becoming  a  mother 
without  a  husband,  as  without  the  assistance  of  Dr.  Todd. 
In  short  he  was  rearing,  on  this  foundation  of  sand,  a 
superstructure,  cemented  by  practice,  though  composed  of 
somewhat  brittle  materials.  He  however  occasionally  re- 
newed his  elementary  studies,  and,  with  the  observation  of 
a  shrewd  mind,  was  comfortably  applying  his  practice  to 
his  theory.  _      ,  , 

In  surgery,  having  the  least  experience,  and  it  being  a 
business  that  spoke  directly  to  the  senses,  he  was  most  apt 
to  distrust  his  own  powers:  but  he  had  applied  oils  to 
several  burns,  cut  round  the  roots  of  sundry  defective  teeth, 
and  sewed  up  the  wounds  of  numberless  wood-choppers, 
with  considerable  eclat,  when  an  unfortunate  jobber 1  suf- 
fered a  fracture  of  his  leg  by  the  tree  that  he  had  been 
felling.    It  was  on  this  occasion  that  our  hero  encountered 
the  greatest  trial  his  nerves  and  moral  feeling  had  ever 
sustained.    In  the  hour  of  need,  however,  he  was  not 
found  wanting.    Most  of  the  amputations  in  the  new  set- 
tlements, and  they  were  quite  frequent,  were  performed 
by  some  one  practitioner,  who,  possessing  originally  a 
reputation,  was  enabled  by  this  circumstance  to  acquire  an 
experience  that  rendered  him  deserving  of  it ;  and  Elna- 
than  had  been  present  at  one  or  two  of  these  operations. 
But  on  the  present  occasion  the  man  of  practice  was  not 
to  be  obtained,  and  the  duty  fell,  as  a  matter  of  course,  to 
the  share  of  Mr.  Todd.    He  went  to  work  with  a  kind  of 
blind  desperation,  observing,  at  the  same  time,  all  the  ex- 
ternals of  decent  gravity  and  great  skill.    The  sufferer's 
name  was  Milligan,  and  it  was  to  this  event  that  Richard 
alluded  when  he  spoke  of  assisting  the  Doctor  at  an  am- 
putation—by holding  the  leg!    The  limb  was  certainly 
cut  off,  and  the  patient  survived  the  operation.    It  was, 
however,  two  years  before  poor  Milligan  ceased  to  com- 
plain, that  they  had  buried  the  leg  in  so  narrow  a  box,  that 
it  was  straitened  for  room :  he  could  feel  the  pain  shooting 
up  from  the  inhumed  fragment  into  the  living  members. 
Marmaduke  suggested  that  the  fault  might  lie  in  the 
arteries  and  nerves :  but  Richard,  considering  the  amputa- 
tion as  part  of  his  own  handiwork,  strongly  repelled  the 
insinuation,  at  the  same  time  declaring,  that  he  had  often 
heard  of  men  who  could  tell  when  it  was  about  to  rain,  by 


*  People  who  clear  land  by  the  acre  or  job  are  thus  called. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


(>7 


the  toes  of  amputated  limbs.  After  two  or  three  years, 
notwithstanding  Milligan's  complaints  gradually  dimin- 
ished, the  leg  was  dug  up,  and  a  larger  box  furnished,  and 
from  that  hour  no  one  had  heard  the  sufferer  utter  another 
complaint  on  the  subject.  This  gave  the  public  great 
confidence  in  Dr.  Todd,  whose  reputation  was  hourly  in- 
creasing, and,  luckily  for  his  patients,  his  information  also. 

Notwithstanding  Dr.  Todd's  practice,  and  his  success 
with  the  leg,  he  was  not  a  little  appalled  on  entering  the 
hall  of  the  Mansion-house.  It  was  glaring  with  the 
light  of  day;  it  looked  so  splendid  and  imposing,  compared 
with  the  hastily  built  and  scantily  furnished  apartments 
which  he  frequented  in  his  ordinary  practice,  and  contained 
so  many  well-dressed  persons  and  anxious  faces,  that  his 
usually  firm  nerves  were  a  good  deal  discomposed.  He 
had  heard,  from  the  messenger  who  summoned  him,  that 
it  was  a  gun-shot  wound,  and  had  come  from  his  own 
home,  wading  through  the  snow,  with  his  saddle-bags 
thrown  over  his  arm,  while  separated  arteries,  penetrated 
lungs,  and  injured  vitals,  were  whirling  through  his  brain, 
as  if  he  were  stalking  over  a  field  of  battle,  instead  of 
Judge  Temple's  peaceable  inclosure. 

The  first  object  that  met  his  eye,  as  he  moved  into  the 
room,  was  Elizabeth  in  her  riding-habit,  richly  laced  writh 
gold  cord,  her  fine  form  bending  towards  him,  and  her 
face  expressing  deep  anxiety  in  every  one  of  its  beautiful 
features.  The  enormous  bony  knees  of  the  physician 
struck  each  other  with  a  noise  that  was  audible;  for  in  the 
absent  state  of  his  mind,  he  mistook  her  for  a  general 
officer,  perforated  with  bullets,  hastening  from  the  field  of 
battle  to  implore  assistance.  The  delusion,  however,  was 
but  momentary,  and  his  eye  glanced  rapidly  from  the 
daughter  to  the  earnest  dignity  of  the  father's  countenance ; 
thence  to  the  busy  strut  of  Eichard,  who  was  cooling  his 
impatience  at  the  hunter's  indifference  to  his  assistance, 
by  pacing  the  hall  and  cracking  his  whip ;  from  him  to 
the  Frenchman,  who  had  stood  for  several  minutes  un- 
heeded, with  a  chair  for  the  lady;  thence  to  Major  Hart- 
mann,  who  was  very  coolly  lighting  a  pipe  three  feet  long 
by  a  candle  in  one  of  the  chandeliers;  thence  to  Mr. 
Grant,  who  was  turning  over  a  manuscript  with  much 
earnestness  at  one  of  the  lustres ;  thence  to  Kemarkable, 
who  stood,  with  her  arms  demurely  folded  before  her,  sur- 
veying with  a  look  of  admiration  and  envy,  the  dress  and 


68  THE  PIONEERS. 

beauty  of  the  youngy  lady ;  and  from  her  to  Benjamin,  who, 
with  his  feet  standing  wide  apart,  and  his  arms  akimbo, 
was  balancing  his  square  little  body,  with  the  indifference 
of  one  who  is  accustomed  to  wounds  and  bloodshed.  All 
of  these  seemed  to  be  unhurt,  and  the  operator  began  to 
breathe  more  freely;  but  before  he  had  time  to  take  a 
second  look,  the  Judge,  advancing,  shook  him,  kindly  by 
the  hand,  and  spoke.  .  _  =. 

«  Thou  art  welcome,  my  good  sir,  quite  welcome,  indeed; 
here  is  a  youth  whom  I  have  unfortunately  wounded  in 
shooting  a  deer  this  evening,  and  who  requires  some  01  thy 
assistance 

"Shooting  at  a  deer,  'Duke,"  interrupted  Richard, 
"shooting  at  a  deer.  Who  do  you  think  can  prescribe, 
unless  he  knows  the  truth  of  the  case?  It  is  always  so 
with  some  people;  they  think  a  doctor^  can  be  deceived 
with  the  same  impunity  as  another  man." 

"Shooting  at  a  deer,  truly,"  returned  the  Judge,  smil- 
ing, "although  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  1  did  not  aid 
in  destroying  the  buck;  but  the  youth  is  inured  by  my 
hand,  be  that  as  it  may;  and  it  is  thy  skill  that  must  cure 
him,  and  my  pocket  shall  amply  reward  thee  tor  it 

-Two  ver  good  tings  to  depend  on,"  observed  Mon- 
sieur Le  Quoi,  bowing  politely,  with  a  sweep  of  his  head, 
to  the  Judge  and  the  practitioner. 

«  I  thank  you,  Monsieur,"  returned  the  Judge ;  but  we 
keep  the  young  man  in  pain.  Remarkable,  thou  wilt 
please  to  provide  linen  for  lint  and  bandages. 

This  remark  caused  a  cessation  of  the  compliments,  and 
induced  the  physician  to  turn  an  inquiring  eye  m  the  di- 
rection of  his  patient.  During  the  dialogue  the  young 
hunter  had  thrown  aside  his  overcoat,  and  now  stood  clad 
in  a  plain  suit  of  the  common,  light-colored  homespun  of 
the  country,  that  was  evidently  but  recently  made.  His 
hand  was  on  the  lapels  of  his  coat,  in  the  attitude  of  re- 
moving: the  garment,  when  he  suddenly  suspended  the 
movement,  and  looked  towards  the  commiserating  Eliza- 
beth, who  was  standing  in  an  unchanged  posture,  too  much 
absorbed  with  her  anxious  feelings  to  heed  his  actions.  A 
slight  color  appeared  on  the  brow  of  the  youth. 

"Possibly  the  sight  of  blood  may  alarm  the  lady;?  I  will 
retire  to  another  room  while  the  wound  is  dressing. 

"  By  no  means,"  said  Dr.  Todd,  who,  having  discovered 
that  his  patient  was  far  from'  being  a  man  of  importance, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


felt  much  emboldened  to  perform  the  duty.  "  The  strong 
light  of  these  candles  is  favorable  to  the  operation,  and  it 
is  seldom  that  we  hard  students  enjoy  good  eye-sight." 

While  speaking,  Elnathan  placed  a  pair  of  large  iron- 
rimmed  spectacles  on  his  face,  where  they  dropped,  as  it 
were  by  long  practice,  to  the  extremity  of  his  slim  pug 
nose;  and  if  they  were  of  no  service  as  assistants  to  his 
eyes,  rieither  were  they  any  impediment  to  his  vision;  for 
his  little  gray  organs  were  twinkling  above  them,  like  two 
stars  emerging  from  the  envious  cover  of  a  cloud.  The 
action  was  unheeded  by  all  but  Eemarkable,  who  observed 
to  Benjamin, — 

"Dr.  Todd  is  a  comely  man  to  look  on,  and  disp'ut 
pretty.  How  well  he  seems  in  spectacles !  I  declare,  they 
give  a  grand  look  to  a  body's  face.  I  have  quite  a  great 
mind  to  try  them  myself." 

The  speech  of  the  stranger  recalled  the  recollection  of 
Miss  Temple,  who  started,  as  if  from  deep  abstraction,  and 

coloring  excessively,  she  motioned  to  a  young  woman  who—  

served  in  the  capacity  of  maid,  and  retired  with  an  air  of 
womanly  reserve. 

The  field  was  now  left  to  the  physician  and  his  patient, 
while  the  different  personages  who  remained  gathered 
around  the  latter,  with  faces  expressing  the  various  degrees 
of  interest  that  each  one  felt  in  his  condition.  Major 
Hartmann  alone  retained  his  seat,  where  he  continued  to 
throw  out  vast  quantities  of  smoke,  now  rolling  his  eyes 
up  to  the  ceiling,  as  if  musing  on  the  uncertainty  of  life, 
and  now  bending  them  on  the  wounded  man,  with  an  ex- 
pression that  bespoke  some  consciousness  of  his  situation. 

In  the  mean  time  Elnathan,  to  whom  the  sight  of  a 
gunshot  wound  was  a  perfect  novelty,  commenced  his 
preparations  with  a  solemnity  and  care  that  were  worthy 
of  the  occasion.  An  old  shirt  was  procured  by  Benjamin, 
and  placed  m  the  hands  of  the  other,  who  tore  divers 
bandages  from  it,  with  an  exactitude  that  marked  both  his 
own  skill  and  the  importance  of  the  operation. 

When  this  preparatory  measure  was  taken,  Dr.  Todd 
selected  a  piece  of  the  shirt  with  great  care,  and  handing 
it  to  Mr.  Jones,  without  moving  a  muscle,  said,— 

"Here,  Squire  Jones,  you  are  well  acquainted  with  these 
things;  will  you  please  to  scrape  the  lint?  It  should  be 
hne  and  soft,  you  know,  my  dear  sir;  and  be  cautious  that 
no  cotton  gets  m,  or  it  may  prison  the  wound.    The  shirt 


7o 


THE  PIONEERS. 


has  been  made  with  cotton  thread,  but  you  can  easily  pick 
it  out." 

Richard  assumed  the  office,  with  a  nod  at  his  cousin, 
that  said  quite  plainly,  "You  see  this  fellow  can't  get 
along  without  me;"  and  began  to  scrape  the  linen  on  his 
knee  with  great  diligence. 

A  table  was  now  spread  with  phials,  boxes  of  salve,  and 
divers  surgical  instruments.  As  the  latter  appeared  in 
succession  from  a  case  of  red  morocco,  their  owner  held 
up  each  implement  to  the  strong  light  of  the  chandelier, 
near  to  which  he  stood,  and  examined  it  with  the  nicest 
care.  A  red  silk  handkerchief  was  frequently  applied  to 
the  glittering  steel,  as  if  to  remove  from  the  polished  sur- 
faces the  least  impediment  which  might  exist,  to  the  most 
delicate  operation.  After  the  rather  scantily  furnished 
pocket-case  which  contained  these  instruments  was  ex- 
hausted, the  physician  turned  to  his  saddle-bags,  and  pro- 
duced various  phials,  filled  with  liquids  of  the  most  radiant 
colors.  These  were  arranged  in  due  order,  by  the  side  of 
the  murderous  saws,  knives,  and  scissors,  when  Elnathan 
stretched  his  long  body  to  its  utmost  elevation,  placing 
his  hand  on  the  small  of  his  back,  as  if  for  support,  and 
looked  about  him  to  discover  what  effect  this  display  of 
professional  skill  was  likely  to  produce  on  the  spectators. 

"Upon  my  wort,  toctor,"  observed  Major  Hartmann, 
with  a  roguish  roll  of  his  little  black  eyes,  but  with  every 
other  feature  of  his  face  in  a  state  of  perfect  rest,  "  put 
you  have  a  very  pretty  pocket-pook  of  tools,  tere,  and  your 
toctor-stuff  glitters  as  if  it  was  petter  for  ter  eyes  as  for 

ter  pelly."  „ 

Elnathan  gave  a  hem— one  that  might  have  been  equally 
taken  for  that  kind  of  noise  which  cowards  are  said  to 
make  in  order  to  awaken  their  dormant  courage,  or  for  a 
natural  effort  to  clear  the  throat ;  if  for  the  latter,  it  was 
successful,  for  turning  his  face  to  the  veteran  German,  he 
said, —  . 

"Very  true,  Major  Hartmann,  very  true,  sir;  a  prudent 
man  will  always  strive  to  make  his  remedies  agreeable  to 
the  eyes,  though  they  may  not  altogether  suit  the  stomach. 
It  is  no  small  part  of  our  art,  sir/'  and  he  now  spoke  with 
the  confidence  of  a  man  who  understood  his  subject,  "  to 
reconcile  the  patient  to  what  is  for  his  own  good,  though 
at  the  same  time  it  may  be  unpalatable." 

"  Sartain !  Dr.  Todd  is  right,"  said  Remarkable,  "  and 


THE  PIONEERS. 


7i 


has  Scripter  for  what  he  says.  The  Bible  tells  us  how 
things  may  be  sweet  to  the  mouth,  and  bitter  to  the  in- 
wards." 

-  "  True,  true,"  interrupted  the  Judge,  a  little  impatiently; 
"  but  here  is  a  youth  who  needs  no  deception  to  lure  him 
to  his  own  benefit.  I  see,  by  his  eye,  that  he  fears  nothing 
more  than  delay." 

The  stranger  had,  without  assistance,  bared  his  own 
shoulder,  when  the  slight  perforation  produced  by  the 
passage  of  the  buck-shot  was  plainly  visible.  The  intense 
cold  of  the  evening  had  stopped  the  bleeding,  and  Dr. 
Todd,  casting  a  furtive  glance  at  the  wound,  thought  it 
by  no  means  so  formidable  an  affair  as  he  had  anticipated. 
Thus  encouraged  he  approached  his  patient,  and  made 
some  indication  of  an  intention  to  trace  the  route  that  had 
been  taken  by  the  lead. 

Remarkable  often  found  occasions,  in  after  days,  to  re- 
count the  minutiae  of  that  celebrated  operation ;  and  when 
she  arrived  at  this  point  she  commonly  proceeded  as  fol- 
lows: "And  then  the  Doctor  tuck  out  of  the  pocket-book 
a  long  thing,  like  a  knitting-needle,  with  a  button  fastened 
to  the  end  on't;  and  then  he  pushed  it  into  the  wownd; 
and  then  the  young  man  looked  awful;  and  then  I  thought 
I  should  have  swaned  away— I  felt  in  sitch  a  disp'ut  tak- 
ing; and  then  the  Doctor  had  run  it  right  through  his 
shoulder,  and  shoved  the  bullet  out  on  to'ther  side;  and 
so  Dr.  Todd  cured  the  young  man  of  a  ball  that  the  Judge  ' 
had  shot  into  him,  for  all  the  world,  as  easy  as  I  could  pick 
out  a  splinter  with  my  darning-needle." 
.  Such  were  the  impressions  of  Remarkable  on  the  sub- 
ject; and  such  doubtless  were  the  opinions  of  most  of 
those  who  felt  it  necessary  to  entertain  a  species  of  religious 
veneration  for  the  skill  of  Elnathan;  but  such  was  far 
from  the  truth. 

When  the  physician  attempted  to  introduce  the  instru- 
ment described  by  Remarkable,  he  was  repulsed  by  the 
stranger,  with  a  good  deal  of  decision,  and  some  little  con- 
tempt, in  his  manner. 

"I  believe,  sir,"  he  said,  "that  a  probe  is  not  necessary; 
the  shot  has  missed  the  bone,  and  has  passed  directly 
through  the  arm  to  the  opposite  side,  where  it  remains  but 
skin-deep,  and  whence,  I  should  think,  it  mint  be  easilv 
extracted."  J 

"The  gentleman  knows  best,"  said  Dr.  Todd,  laying 


72 


THE  PIONEERS. 


down  the  probe  with  the  air  of  a  man  who  had  assumed  it 
merely  in  compliance  with  forms ;  and  turning  to  Richard, 
he  fingered  the  lint  with  the  appearance  of  great  care  and 
foresight.  "Admirably  well  scraped,  Squire  Jones!  it  is 
about  the  best  lint  I  have  ever  seen.  I  want  your  assist- 
ance, my.  good  sir,  to  hold  the  patient's  arm  while  I  make 
an  incision  for  the  ball.  Now,  I  rather  guess  there  is  not 
another  gentleman  present  who  could  scrape  the  lint  so 
well  as  Squire  Jones." 

"Such  things  run  in  families,"  observed  Richard,  rising 
with  alacrity  to  render  the  desired  assistance.  "  My  father 
and  my  grandfather  before  him,  were  both  celebrated  for 
their  knowledge  of  surgery;  they  were  not,  like  Marma- 
duke,  here,  puSed  up  with  an  accidental  thing,  such  as  the 
time  when  he  drew  in  the  hip- joint  of  the  man  who  was 
thrown  from  his  horse :  that  was  the  fall  before  you  came 
into  the  settlement,  Doctor;  but  they  were  men  who  were 
taught  the  thing  regularly,  spending  half  their  lives  in 
learning  those  little  niceties;  though  for  the  matter  of 
that,  my  grandfather  was  a  college-bred  physician,  and  the 
best  in  the  colony,  too — that  is,  in  his  neighborhood." 
.  "So  it  goes  with  the  world,  Squire,"  cried  Benjamin, 
"if-so-be  that  a  man  wants  to  walk  the  quarter-deck  with 
credit,  d'ye  see,  and  with  regular  built  swabs  on  his  shoul- 
ders, he  mustn't  think  to  do  it  by  getting  in  at  the  cabin- 
windows.  There  are  two  ways  to  get  into  a  top,  besides 
the  lubber-holes.  The  true  way  to  walk  aft  is  to  begin 
forrard;  tho'f  it  be  only  in  a  humble  way,  like  myself,  d'ye 
see,  which  was,  from  being  only  a  bander  of  top-gallant- 
sails,  and  a  stower  of  the  flying-jib,  to  keeping  the  key  of 
the  captain's  locker." 

"Benjamin  speaks  quite  to  the  purpose,"  continued 
Richard.  "I  dare  say  that  he  has  often  seen  shot  ex- 
tracted, in  the  different  ships  in  which  he  has  served; 
suppose  we  get  him  to  hold  the  basin ;  he  must  be  used  to 
the  sight  of  blood." 

"  That  he  is,  Squire,  that  he  is,"  interrupted  the  ci-devant 
steward;  "many's  the  good  shot,  round,  double-headed, 
and  grape,  that  I've  seen  the  doctors  at  work  on.  For  the 
matter  of  that,  I  was  in  a  boat,  alongside  the  ship,  when 
they  cut  out  the  twelve-pound  shot  from  the  thigh  of  the 
captain  of  the  Foody-rong,  one  of  Mounsheer  Ler  Quaw's 
countrymen ! "  1 

» It  is  possible  that  the  reader  may  start  at  this  declaration  of  Benjamin,  but 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"A  twelve-pound  ball  from  the  thigh  of  a  human  being  ? 99 
exclaimed  Mr.  Grant,  with  great  simplicity,  dropping  the 
sermon  he  was  again  reading,  and  raising  his  spectacles  to 
the  top  of  his  forehead. 

"A  twelve-pounder ! "  echoed  Benjamin,  staring  around 
him  with  much  confidence;  "a  twelve-pounder!  aye!  a 
twenty-four  pound  shot  can  easily  be  taken  from  a  man's 
body,  if-so-be  a  doctor  only  knows  how.  There's  Squire 
J  ones,  now,  ask  him,  sir ;  he  reads  all  the  books ;  ask  him 
if  he  never  fell  in  with  a  page  that  keeps  the  reckoning  of 
such  things." 

"  Certainly,  more  important  operations  than  that  have 
been  performed,"  observed  Kichard ;  "  the  Encyclopedia 
.  mentions  much  more  incredible  circumstances  than  that, 
as,  I  dare  say,  you  know,  Doctor  Todd." 

"  Certainly,  there  are  incredible  tales  told  in  the  Ency- 
clopedias," returned  Elnathan,  "  though  I  cannot  say  that 
1  have  ever  seen,  myself,  anything  larger  than  a  musket - 
bullet  extracted." 

During  this  discourse  an  incision  had  been  made  through 
the  skin  of  the  young  hunter's  shoulder,  and  the  lead  was 
laid  bare.  Elnathan  took  a  pair  of  glittering  forceps,  and 
was  in  the  act  of  applying  them  to  the  wound,  when  a 
sudden  motion  of  the  patient  caused  the  shot  to  fall  out 
of  itself.  The  long  arm  and  broad  hand  of  the  operator 
were  now  of  singular  service;  for  the  latter  expanded  itself, 
and  caught  the  lead,  while  at  the  same  time,  an  extremely 
ambiguous  motion  was  made  by  its  brother,  so  as  to  leave 
it  doubtful  to  the  spectators  how  great  was  its  agency  in 
releasing  the  shot.  Eichard,  however,  put  the  matter  at 
rest  by  exclaiming, — 

"Very  neatly  done,  Doctor!  I  have  never  seen  a  shot 
more  neatly  extracted  ;  and  I  dare  say,  Benjamin  will  say 
the  same." 

"  Why,  considering,"  returned  Benjamin,  "  I  must  say, 
that  it  was  ship-shape,  and  Brister-fashion.  Now  all  that 
the  Doctor  has  to  do,  is  to  clap  a  couple  of  plugs  in  the 
holes,  and  the  lad  will  float  in  any  gale  that  blows  in  these 
here  hills." 

"I  thank  you,  sir,  for  what  you  have  done,"  said  the 
youth,  with  a  little  distance;  "but  here  is  a  man  who  will 


those  who  have  lived  in  the  new  settlements  of  America,  are  too  much  accus- 
tomed to  hear  of  these  European  exploits,  to  doubt  it. 


74  THE  PIONEERS. 

take  me  under  his  care,  and  spare  you  all,  gentlemen,  any 
further  trouble  on  my  account." 

The  whole  group  turned  their  heads  in  surprise,  and 
beheld,  standing  at  one  of  the  distant  doors  of  the  hall,  the 
person  of  Indian  J ohn. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

From  Susquehanna's  utmost  springs, 

Where  savage  tribes  pursue  their  game, 
His  blanket  tied  with  yellow  strings, 

The  shepherd  of  the  forest  came.  Freneau. 

Before  the  Europeans,  or,  to  use  a  more  significant 
term,  the  Christians,  dispossessed  the  original  owners  of 
the  soil,  all  that  section  of  country,  which  contains  the 
New  England  States,  and  those  of  the  Middle,  which  lie 
east  of  the  mountains,  was  occupied  by  twogrjeat^a^ons 
of  Indians,  from  whom  had  descended  numberless  tribes. 
ButT~asthe  original  distinctions  between  these  nations 
were  marked  by  a  difference  in  language,  as  well  as  by  re- 
peated and  bloody  wars,  they  never  were  known  to  amal- 
gamate, until  after  the  power  and  inroads  of  the  whites 
had  reduced  some  of  the  tribes  to  a  state  of  dependence, 
that  rendered  not  only  their  political,  but,  considering  the 
wants  and  habits  of  a  savage,  their  animal  existence  also, 
extremely  precarious. 

These  two  great  divisions  consisted,  on  the  one  side,  of 
the  Five,  or  as  they  were  afterwards  called,  the  Six  Nations, 
and  their  allies ;  and  on  the  other,  of  the  Lenni  Lenape, 
or  Delawares,  with  the  numerous  and  powerful  tribes  that 
owned  that  nation  as  their  grandfather.  The  former  were 
generally  called,  by  the  Anglo-Americans,  Iroquois,  or  the 
Six  Nations,  and  sometimes  Mingos.  Their  appellation, 
among  their  rivals,  seems  generally  to  have  been  the 
Mengwe,  or  Maqua.  They  consisted  of  the  tribes,  or,  as 
their  allies  were  fond  of  asserting,  in  order  to  raise  their 
consequence,  of  the  several  nations  of  the  Mohawks,  the 
Oneidas,  the  Onondagas,  Cayugas,  and  Senecas;  who 
ranked,  in  the  confederation,  in  the  order  in  which  they 
are  named.  The  Tuscaroras  were  admitted  to  this  union, 
near  a  century  after  its  formation,  and  thus  completed 
the  number  to  six. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


75 


i6~x/enni  Lenape,  or  as  they  were  called  by  the 
whites,  from  the  circumstance  of  their  holding  their  great 
council  fire  on  the  banks  of  that  river,  the  Delaware  nation, 
the  principal  tribes,  besides  that  which  bore  the  generic 
name,  were,  the  Mahicanni,  Mohicans,  or  Mohegans,  and 
the  Nanticokes,  or  Nentigoes.  Of  these,  the  latter  held  the 
country  along  the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake  and  the  sea- 
shore ;  while  the  Mohegans  occupied  the  district  between 
the  Hudson  and  the  ocean,  including  much  of  New 
England.  Of  course,  these  two  tribes  were  the  first  who 
were  dispossessed  of  their  lands  by  the  Europeans. 

The  wars  of  a  portion  of  the  latter  are  celebrated  among 
us  as  the  wars  of  King  Philip ;  but  the  peaceful  policy  of 
William  Penn,  or  Miquon,  as  he  was  termed  by  the  natives, 
effected  its  object  with  less  difficulty,  though  not  with  less 
certainty.  As  the  natives  gradually  disappeared  from  the 
country  of  the  Mohegans,  some  scattering  families  sought 
a  refuge  around  the  council  fire  of  the  mother  tribe,  or  the 
Delawares. 

This  people  had  been  induced  to  suffer  themselves  to  be 
called  women,  by  their  old  enemies,  the  Mingos,  or  Iroquois, 
after  the  latter,  having  in  vain  tried  the  effects  of  hostility, 
had  recourse  to  artifice,  in  order  to  prevail  over  their  rivals. 
According  to  this  declaration,  the  Delawares  were  to  culti- 
vate the  arts  of  peace,  and  to  intrust  their  defense  entirely 
to  the  men,  or  warlike  tribes  of  the  Six  Nations. 

This  state  of  things  continued  until  the  war  of  the  Re- 
volution, when  the  Lenni  Lenape  formally  asserted  their 
independence,  and  fearlessly  declared  that  they  were  again 
men.  But  in  a  government  so  peculiarly  republican  as  the 
Jj^j?!11  P^fe  ^  was  not  at  all  times  an  easy  task  to  re- 
s^anT  its  members  within  the  rules  of  the  nation.  Several 
fierce  and  renowned  warriors  of  the  Mohegans,  finding  the 
conflict  with  the  whites  to  be  in  vain,  sought  a  refuge  with 
their  Grandfather,  and  brought  with  them  the  feelings  and 
principles  that  had  so  long-  distinguished  them  in  their 
own  tribe.  These  chieftains  kept  alive,  in  some  measure, 
the  martial  spirit  of  the  Delawares;  and  would,  at  times, 
lead  small  parties  against  their  ancient  enemies,  or  such 
other  foes  as  incurred  their  resentment. 

Among  these  warriors  was  one  race  particularly  famous 
for  their  prowess,  and  for  those  qualities  that  render  an 
Indian  hero  celebrated.  But  war,  time,  disease,  and  want 
had  conspired  to  thin  their  number;  and  the  sole  repre- 


76 


THE  PIONEERS 


sentative  of  this  once  renowned  family  now  stood  in  the 
hall  of  Marmaduke  Temple.  He  had  for  a  long  time  been 
an  associate  of  the  white  men,  particularly  in  their  wars; 
and  having  been,  at  a  season  when  his  services  were  of  im- 
portance, much  noticed  and  flattered,  he  had  turned  Chris- 
tian, and  was  baptized  by  the  name  of  John.  He  had  suf- 
fered severely  in  his  family  during  the  recent  war,  having 
had  every  soul  to  whom  he  was  allied  cut  oif  by  an  inroad 
of  the  enemy;  and  when  the  last,  lingering  remnant  of 
his  nation  extinguished  their  fires,  among  the  hills  of  the 
Delaware,  he  alone  had  remained,  with  a  determination  of 
laying  his  bones  in  that  country,  where  his  fathers  had  so 
long  lived  and  governed. 

It  was  only,  however,  within  a  few  months,  that  he  had 
appeared  among  the  mountains  that  surrounded  Temple- 
ton.  To  the  hut  of  the  old  hunter  he  seemed  peculiarly 
welcome;  and,  as  the  habits  of  the  "Leather-Stocking," 
were  so  nearly  assimilated  to  those  of  the  savages,  the  con- 
junction of  their  interests  excited  no  surprise.  They  re- 
sided in  the  same  cabin,  ate  of  the  same  food,  and  were 
chiefly  occupied  in  the  same  pursuits. 

We  have  already  mentioned  the  baptismal  name  of  this 
ancient  chief;  but  in  his  conversation  with  Natty,  held  in 
the  language  of  the  Delawares,  he  was  heard  uniformly  to 
call  himself  Chingachgook,  which,  interpreted,  means  the 
"  Great  Snake."  This  name  he  had  acquired  in  youth,  by 
his  skill  and  prowess  in  war;  but  when  his  brows  began  to 
wrinkle  with  time,  and  he  stood  alone,  the  last  of  his 
family,  and  his  particular  tribe,  the  few  Delawares,  who 
yet  continued  about  the  head-waters  of  their  river,  gave 
him  the  mournful  appellation  of  Mohegan.  Perhaps  there 
was  something  of  deep  feeling  excited  in  the  bosom  of  this 
inhabitant  of  the  forest  by  the  sound  of  a  name  that  re- 
called the  idea  of  his  nation  in  ruins,  for  he  seldom  used  it 
himself, — never  indeed,  excepting  on  the  most  solemn  oc- 
casions; but,  the  settlers  had  united,  according  to  the 
Christian  custom,  his  baptismal  with  his  national  name, 
and  to  them  he  was  generally  known  as  John  Mohegan,  or, 
more  familiarly,  as  Indian  John. 

From  his  long  association  with  the  white  men,  the  habits 
of  Mohegan  were  a  mixture  of  the  civilized  and  savage 
states,  though  there  was  certainly  a  strong  preponderance 
in  favor  of  the  latter.  In  common  with  all  his  people,  who 
dwelt  within  the  influence  of  the  Anglo-Americans,  he  had 


THE  PIONEERS. 


77 


acquired  new  wants,  and  his  dress  was  a  mixture  of  his 
native  and  European  fashions.  Notwithstanding  the  in- 
tense cold  without,  his  head  was  uncovered;  but  a  pro- 
fusion of  long,  black,  coarse  hair  concealed  his  forehead, 
his  crown,  and  even  hung  about  his  cheeks,  so  as  to  con- 
vey the  idea,  to  one  who  knew  his  present  and  former 
conditions,  that  he  encouraged  its  abundance,  as  a  willing 
veil,  to  hide  the  shame  of  a  noble  soul,  mourning  for  glory 
once  known.  His  forehead,  when  it  could  be  seen,  ap- 
peared lofty,  broad,  and  noble.  His  nose  was  high,  and  of 
the  kind  called  Koman,  with  nostrils  that  expanded,  in  his 
seventieth  year,  with  the  freedom  that  had  distinguished 
them  in  youth.  His  mouth  was  large,  but  compressed, 
and  possessing  a  great  share  of  expression  and  character; 
and,  when  open,  it  discovered  a  perfect  set  of  short,  strong, 
and  regular  teeth.  His  chin  was  full,  though  not  promi- 
nent; and  his  face  bore  the  infallible  mark  of  his  people, 
in  its  square,  high  cheek-bones.  The  eyes  were  not  large, 
but  their  black  orbs  glittered  in  the  rays  of  the  candles, 
as  he  gazed  intently  down  the  hall,  like  two  balls  of  fire. 

The  instant  that  Mohegan  observed  himself  to  be  noticed 
by  the  group  around  the  young  stranger,  he  dropped  the 
blanket,  which  covered  the  upper  part  of  his  frame,  from 
his  shoulders,  suffering  it  to  fall  over  his  leggings  of  un- 
tanned  deerskin,  where  it  was  retained  by  a  belt  of  bark 
that  confined  it  to  his  waist. 

As  he  walked  slowly  down  the  long  hall,  the  dignified 
and  deliberate  tread  of  the  Indian  surprised  the  spectators. 
His  shoulders,  and  body  to  his  waist,  were  entirely  bare, 
with  the  exception  of  a  silver  medallion  of  Washington, 
that  was  suspended  from  his  neck  by  a  thong  of  buckskin, 
and  rested  on  his  high  chest,  amidst  many  scars.  His 
shoulders  were  rather  broad  and  full;  but  the  arms,  though 
straight  and  graceful,  wanted  the  muscular  appearance 
that  labor  gives  to  a  race  of  men.  The  medallion  was  the 
only  ornament  he  wore,  although  enormous  slits  in  the  rim 
of  either  ear,  which  suffered  the  cartilages  to  fall  two  inches 
below  the  members,  had  evidently  been  used  for  the  pur- 
poses of  decoration  in  other  days.  In  his  hand  he  held  a 
small  basket  of  the  ash-wood  slips,  colored  in  divers  fan- 
tastical conceits,  with  red  and  black  paints  mingled  with 
the  white  of  the  wood. 

As  this  child  of  the  forest  approached  them,  the  whole 
party  stood  aside,  and  allowed  him  to  confront  the  object 


78 


THE  PIONEERS. 


of  his  visit.  He  did  not  speak,  however,  but  stood  fixing 
his  glowing  eyes  on  the  shoulder  of  the  young  hunter,  and 
then  turning  them  intently  on  the  countenance  of  the 
Judge.  The  latter  was  a  good  deal  astonished  at  this  un- 
usual departure  from  the  ordinarily  subdued  and  quiet 
manner  of  the  Indian;  but  he  extended  his  hand,  and 
said, — 

"Thou  art  welcome,  John.'  This  youth  entertains  a 
high  opinion  of  thy  skill,  it  seems,  for  he  prefers  thee  to 
dress  his  wound  even  to  our  good  friend,  Dr.  Todd." 

Mohegan  now  spoke,  in  tolerable  English,  but  in  a  low, 
monotonous,  guttural  tone : — 

"  The  children  of  Miquon  do  not  love  the  sight  of  blood, 
and  yet  the  Young  Eagle  has  been  struck  by  the  hand  that 
should  do  no  evil." 

"  Mohegan !  old  John !  "  exclaimed  the  Judge,  "  thinkest 
thou  that  my  hand  has  ever  drawn  human  blood  willingly  ? 
For  shame \  for  shame,  old  John!  thy  religion  should  have 
taught  thee  better." 

"  The  evil  spirit  sometimes  lives  in  the  best  heart,"  re- 
turned John,  "but  my  brother  speaks  the  truth;  his  hand 
has  never  taken  life,  when  awake ;  no !  not  even  when  the 
children  of  the  great  English  Father  were  making  the 
waters  red  with  the  blood  of  his  people." 

"Surely,  John,"  said  Mr.  Grant,  with  much  earnestness, 
"you  remember  the  divine  command  of  our  Saviour, 
'Judge  not,  lest  ye  be  judged.'  What  motive  could  Judge 
Temple  have  for  injuring  a  youth  like  this;  one  to  whom 
he  is  unknown,  and  from  whom  he  can  receive  neither  in- 
jury nor  favor! " 

John  listened  respectfully  to  the  divine,  and  when  he 
had  concluded,  he  stretched  out  his  arms,  and  said  with 
energy,— 

"  He  is  innocent ;  my  brother  has  not  done  this." 

Marmaduke  received  the  offered  hand  of  the  other  with 
a  smile,  that  showed,  however  he  might  be  astonished  at 
his  suspicion,  he  had  ceased  to  resent  it;  while  the  wounded 
youth  stood,  gazing  from  his  red  friend  to  his  host,  with 
interest  powerfully  delineated  in  his  countenance.  Ko 
sooner  was  this  act  of  pacification  exchanged,  than  John 
proceeded  to  discharge  the  duty  on  which  he  had  come. 
Dr.  Todd  was  far  from  manifesting  any  displeasure  at  this 
invasion  of  his  rights,  but  made  way  for  the  new  leech, 
with  an  air  that  expressed  a  willingness  to  gratify  the 


THE  PIONEERS. 


79 


humors  of  his  patient,  now  that  the  all-important  part  of 
the  business  was  so  successfully  performed,  and  nothing 
remained  to  be  done  but  what  any  child  might  effect.  In- 
deed, he  whispered  as  much  to  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  when 
he  said, — 

"It  was  fortunate  that  the  ball  was  extracted  before 
this  Indian  came  in;  but  any  old  woman  can  dress  the 
wound.  The  young  man,  I  hear,  lives  with  John  and  Natty 
Bumppo,  and  it's  always  best  to  humor  a  patient,  when  it 
can  be  done  discreetly — I  say,  discreetly,  Monsieur." 

"  Certainement,"  returned  the  Frenchman ;  "  you  seem 
ver  happy,  Mister  Todd,  in  your  pratique.  I  tink  the 
elder  lady  might  ver  well  finish  vat  you  so  skeelfully 
begin." 

But  Richard  had,  at  the  bottom,  a  great  deal  of  venera- 
tion for  the  knowledge  of  Mohegan,  especially  in  external 
wounds ;  and  retaining  all  his  desire  for  a  participation  in 
glory,  he  advanced  nigh  the  Indian,  and  said, — 

"  Sago, sago,  Mohegan!  sago,  my  good  fellow!  I  am  glad 
you  have  come;  give  me  a  regular  physician,  like  Dr. 
Todd,  to  cut  into  flesh,  and  a  native  to  heal  the  wound. 
Do  you  remember,  J ohn,  the  time  when  I  and  you  set  the 
bone  of  Natty  Bumppo's  little  finger,  after  he  broke  it  by 
falling  from  the  rock,  when  he  was  trying  to  get  the  par- 
tridge that  fell  on  the  cliffs.  I  never  could  tell  yet, 
whether  it  was  I  or  Natty  who  killed  that  bird :  he  fired 
first,  and  the  bird  stooped,  and  then  it  was  rising  again  as 
I  pulled  trigger.  I  should  have  claimed  it,  for  a  certainty, 
but  Natty  said  the  hole  was  too  big  for  shot,  and  he  fired 
a  single  ball  from  his  rifle ;  but  the  piece  I  carried  then 
didn't  scatter,  and  I  have  known  it  to  bore  a  hole  through 
a  board,  when  I've  been  shooting  at  a  mark,  very  much 
like  rifle  bullets.  Shall  I  help  you,  John  ?  You  know  I 
have  a  knack  at  these  things." 

Mohegan  heard  this  disquisition  quite  patiently,  and 
when  Richard  concluded,  he  held  out  the  basket  which 
contained  his  specifics,  indicating,  by  a  gesture,  that  he 
might  hold  it.  Mr.  Jones  was  quite  satisfied  with  this 
commission;  and,  ever  after,  in  speaking  of  the  event,  was 
used  to  say,  that  "  Doctor  Todd  and  I  cut  out  the  bullet, 
and  I  and  Indian  John  dressed  the  wound." 

The  patient  was  much  more  deserving  of  that  epithet, 
while  under  the  hands  of  Mohegan,  than  while  suffering 
under  the  practice  of  the  physician.    Indeed,  the  Indian 


8o 


THE  PIONEERS. 


gave  him  but  little  opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  a  for- 
bearing temper,  as  he  had  come  prepared  for  the  occasion. 
His  dressings  were  soon  applied,  and  consisted  only  of  some 
pounded  bark,  moistened  with  a  fluid  that  he  had  expressed 
from  some  of  the  simples  of  the  woods. 

Among  the  native  tribes  of  the  forest,  there  were  always 
two  kinds  of  leeches  to  be  met  with.  The  one  placed  its 
whole  dependence  on  the  exercise  of  a  supernatural  power, 
end  was  held  in  greater  veneration  than  their  practice 
could  at  all  justify;  but  the  other  was  really  endowed  with 
great  skill  in  the  ordinary  complaints  of  the  human  body, 
and  was  more  particularly,  as  Natty  had  intimated, 
"  cur'ous  in  cuts  and  bruises." 

While  John  and  Eichard  were  placing  the  dressings  on 
the  wound,  Elnathan  was  acutely  eying  the  contents  of 
Mohegan's  basket,  which  Mr.  Jones,  in  his  physical  ardor, 
had  transferred  to  the  Doctor,  in  order  to  hold,  himself, 
one  end  of  the  bandages.  Here  he  was  soon  enabled  to 
detect  sundry  fragments  of  wood  and  bark,  of  which  he 
quite  coolly  took  possession,  very  possibly,  without  any  in- 
tention of  speaking  at  all  upon  the  subject;  but  when  he 
beheld  the  full  blue  eye  of  Marmaduke  watching  his  move- 
ments, he  whispered  to  the  Judge, — 

"  It  is  not  to  be  denied,  Judge  Temple,  but  what  the 
savages  are  knowing  in  small  matters  of  physic.  They  hand 
these  things  down  in  their  traditions.  Now  in  cancers  and 
hydrophoby,  they  are  quite  ingenious.  I  will  just  take 
this  bark  home  and  analyze  it;  for,  though  it  can't  be 
worth  sixpence  to  the  young  man's  shoulder,  it  may  be 
good  for  the  toothache,  or  rheumatism,  or  some  of  them 
complaints.  A  man  should  never  be  above  learning,  even 
if  it  be  from  an  Indian." 

It  was  fortunate  for  Dr.  Todd  that  his  principles  were 
so  liberal,  as,  coupled  with  his  practice,  they  were  the 
means  by  which  he  acquired  all  his  knowledge,  and  by 
which  he  was  gradually  qualifying  himself  for  the  duties 
of  his  profession.  The  process  to  which  he  subjected  the 
specific,  differed,  however,  greatly  from  the  ordinary  rules 
of  chemistry;  for,  instead  of  separating,  he  afterwards 
united  the  component  parts  of  Mohegan's  remedy,  and 
thus  was  able  to  discover  the  tree  whence  the  Indian  had 
taken  it. 

Some  ten  years  after  this  event,  when  civilization  and 
its  refinements  had  crept,  or  rather  rushed,  into  the  settle- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


81 


ments  among  these  wild  hills,  an  affair  of  honor  occurred, 
and  Elnathan  was  seen  to  apply  a  salve  to  the-  wound  re- 
ceived by  one  of  the  parties,  which  had  the  flavor  that  was 
peculiar  to  the  tree,  or  root,  that  Mohegan  had  used.  Ten 
years  later  still,  when  England  and  the  United  States  were 
again  engaged  in  war,  and  the  hordes  of  the  western  parts 
of  the  State  of  New  York  were  rushing  to  the  field,  Elna- 
than, presuming  on  the  reputation  obtained  by  these  two 
operations,  followed  in  the  rear  of  a  brigade  of  militia  as 
its.  surgeon ! 

When  Mohegan  had  applied  the  bark,  he  freely  relin- 
quished to  Eichard  the  needle  and  thread  that  were  used 
in  sewing  the  bandages,  for  these  were  implements  of 
which  the  native  but  little  understood  the  use;  and,  step- 
ping back,  with  decent  gravity,  awaited  the  completion  of 
the  business  by  the  other. 

"  Reach  me  the  scissors,"  said  Mr.  Jones,  when  he  had 
finished,  and  finished  for  the  second  time,  after  tying  the 
linen  in  every  shape  and  form  that  it  could  be  placed ; 
"  reach  me  the  scissors,  for  here  is  a  thread  that  must  be 
cut  off,  or  it  might  get  under  the  dressings,  and  inflame 
the  wound.  See,  John,  I  have  put  the  lint  I  scraped  be- 
tween two  layers  of  the  linen ;  for  though  the  bark  is  cer- 
tainly best  for  the  flesh,  yet  the  lint  will  serve  to  keep  the 
cold  air  from  the  wound.  If  any  lint  will  do  it  good,  it  is 
this  lint;  I  scraped  it  myself,  and  I  will  not  turn  my  back 
at  scraping  lint  to  any  man  on  the  Patent.  I  ought  to 
know  how,  if  anybody  ought,  for  my  grandfather  was  a 
doctor,  and  my  father  had  a  natural  turn  that  way." 

"Here,  Squire,  is  the  scissors,"  said  Remarkable,  pro- 
ducing from  beneath  her  petticoat  of  green  moreen  a  pair 
of  dull-looking  shears ;  "  well,  upon  my  say-so,  you  have 
sewed  on  the  rags  as  well  as  a  woman." 

"As  well  as  a  woman ! "  echoed  Richard,  with  indigna- 
tion, "what  do  women  know  of  such  matters  ?  and  you  are 
proof  of  the  truth  of  what  I  say.  Who  ever  saw  such  a 
pair  of  shears  used  about  a  wound  ?  Dr.  Todd,  I  will 
thank  you  for  the  scissors  from  the  case.  .  Now,  young 
man,  I  think  you'll  do.  The  shot  has  been  very  neatly 
taken  out,  although  perhaps,  seeing  I  had  a  hand  in  it,  I 
ought  not  to  say  so ;  and  the  wound  is  admirably  dressed. 
You  will  soon  be  well  again;  though  the  jerk  you  gave  my 
leaders  must  have  a  tendency  to  inflame  the  shoulder,  yet 
you  will  do,  you  will  do.    You  were  rather  flurried,  I  sup- 


82 


THE  PIONEERS, 


pose,  and  not  used  to  horses;  but  I  forgive  the  acoident 
for  the  motive:  no  doubt  you  had  the  best  of  motives; 
yes,  now  you  will  do." 

"Then,  gentlemen,"  said  the  wounded  stranger,  rising, 
and  resuming  his  clothes,  "  it  will  be  unnecessary  for  me 
to  trespass  longer  on  your  time  and  patience.  There  re- 
mains but  one  thing  more  to  be  settled,  and  that  is,  our 
respective  rights  to  the  deer,  Judge  Temple." 

"I  acknowledge  it  to  be  thine,"  said  Marmaduke,  "and 
much  more  deeply  am  I  indebted  to  thee  than  for  this 
piece  of  venison.  But  in  the  morning  thou  wilt  call  here, 
and  we  can  adjust  this,  as  well  as  more  important  matters. 
Elizabeth," — for  the  young  lady,  being  apprised  that  the 
wound  was  dressed,  had  reentered  the  hall, — "  thou  wilt 
order  a  repast  for  this  youth  before  we  proceed  to  the 
church ;  and  Aggy  will  have  a  sleigh  prepared,  to  convey 
him  to  his  friend." 

"  But,  sir,  I  cannot  go  without  a  part  of  the  deer,"  re- 
turned the  youth,  seemingly  struggling  with  his  own  feel- 
ings ;  "  I  have  already  told  you  that  I  needed  the  venison 
for  myself." 

"  0 !  we  will  not  be  particular,"  exclaimed  Richard ; 
"  the  Judge  will  pay  you  in  the  morning  for  the  whole 
deer;  and  Remarkable,  give  the  lad  all  the  animal  except- 
ing the  saddle;  so,  on  the  whole,  I  think  you  may  con- 
sider yourself  as  a  very  lucky  young  man;  you  have  been 
shot  without  being  disabled ;  have  had  the  wound  dressed 
in  the  best  possible  manner  here  in  the  woods,  as  well  as  it 
would  have  been  done  in  the  Philadelphia  hospital,  if  not 
better ;  have  sold  your  deer  at  a  high  price,  and  yet  can 
keep  most  of  the  carcass,  with  the  skin  in  the  bargain. 
Marky,  tell  Tom  to  give  him  the  skin,  too;  and  in  the 
morning  bring  the  skin  to  me,  and  I  will  give  you  half  a 
dollar  for  it,  or  at  least  three  and  sixpence.  I  want  just 
such  a  skin  to  cover  the  pillion  that  I  am  making  for 
cousin  Bess." 

"  I  thank  you,  sir,  for  your  liberality,  and,  I  trust,  am 
also  thankful  for  my  escape,"  returned  the  stranger;  "but 
you  reserve  the  very  part  of  the  animal  that  I  wished  for 
my  own  use.    I  must  have  the  saddle  myself." 

"  Must !  "  echoed  Richard ;  "  must  is  harder  to  be  swal- 
lowed than  the  horns  of  the  buck." 

"Yes,  must,"  repeated  the  youth:  when,  turning  his 
head  proudly  around  him,  as  if  to  see  who  would  dare  to 


THE  PIONEERS. 


83 


controvert  his  rights,  he  met  the  astonished  gaze  of  Eliza- 
beth, and  proceeded  more  mildly,  "  that  is,  if  a  man  is  al- 
lowed the  possession  of  that  which  his  hand  hath  killed, 
and  the  law  will  protect  him  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  own." 

"  The  law  will  do  so,"  said  Judge  Temple,  with  an  air  of 
mortification  mingled  with  surprise.  "  Benjamin,  see  that 
the  whole  deer  is  placed  in  the  sleigh ;  and  have  this  youth 
conveyed  to  the  hut  of  Leather-Stocking.  But,  young 
man,  thou  hast  a  name,  and  I  shall  see  you  again,  in  order 
to  compensate  thee  for  the  wrong  I  have  done  thee  ?  " 

"lam  called  Edwards,"  returned  the  hunter;  "Oliver 
Edwards.  I  am  easily  to  be  seen,  sir,  for  I  live  nigh  by, 
and  am  not  afraid  to  show  my  face,  having  never  injured 
any  man." 

"It  is  we  who  have  injured  you,  sir,"  said  Elizabeth; 
"  and  the  knowledge  that  you  decline  our  assistance  would 
give  my  father  great  pain.  He  would  gladly  see  you  in 
the  morning." 

The 'young  hunter  gazed  at  the  fair  speaker  until  his 
earnest  look  brought  the  blood  to  her  temples;  when, 
recollecting  himself,  he  bent  his  head,  dropping  his  eyes 
to  the  carpet,  and  replied,- 

"In  the  morning,  then,  will  I  return,  and  see  Judge 
Temple;  and  I  will  accept  his  offer  of  the  sleigh  in  token 
of  amity." 

"Amity!"  repeated  Marmaduke;  " there  was  no  malice 
in  the  act  that  injured  thee,  young  man;  there  should  be 
none  in  the  feelings  which  it  may  engender." 

"  Forgive  our  trespasses  as  we  forgive  those  who  trespass 
against  us,"  observed  Mr.  Grant,  "is  the  language  used  by 
our  Divine  Master  himself,  and  it  should  be  the  golden 
rule  of  us,  his  humble  followers." 

The  stranger  stood  a  moment,  lost  in  thought,  and  then 
glancing  his  dark  eyes  rather  wildly  around  the  hall,  he 
bowed  low  to  the  divine,  and  moved  from  the  apartment, 
with  an  air  that  would  not  admit  of  detention. 

"'Tis  strange  that  one  so  young  should  harbor  such 
feelings  of  resentment,"  said  Marmaduke,  when  the  door 
closed  behind  the  stranger ;  "  but  while  the  pain  is  recent, 
and  the  sense  of  the  injury  so  fresh,  he  must  feel  more 
strongly  than  in  cooler  moments.  I  doubt  not  we  shall 
see  him  in  the  morning  more  tractable." 

Elizabeth,  to  whom  this  speech  was  addressed,  did  not 
reply,  but  moved  slowly  up  the  hall,  by  herself,  fixing  her 


84 


THE  PIONEERS. 


eyes  on  the  little  figure  of  the  English  ingrained  carpet 
that  covered  the  floor;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  Richard 
gave  a  loud  crack  with  his  whip,  as  the  stranger  disap- 
peared  and  cried, — 

"Well,  'Duke,  you  are  your  own  master,  but  I  would 
have  tried  law  for  the  saddle,  before  I  would  have  given  it 
to  the  fellow.  Do  you  not  own  the  mountains  as  well  as 
the  valleys  ?  are  not  the  woods  your  own  ?  what  right  has 
this  chap,  or  the  Leather-Stocking,  to  shoot  in  your  woods, 
without  your  permission  ?  Now,  I  have  known  a  farmer 
in  Pennsylvania  order  a  sportsman  off  his  farm  with  as 
little  ceremony  as  I  would  order  Benjamin  to  put  a  log  in 
the  stove.  By  the  bye,  Benjamin,  see  how  the  thermometer 
stands.  Now,  if  a  man  has  a  right  to  do  this  on  a  farm  of 
a  hundred  acres,  what  power  must  a  landlord  have  who 
owns  sixty  thousand — aye,  for  the  matter  of  that,  including 
the  late  purchases,  a  hundred  thousand  ?  There  is  Mohe- 
gan,  to  be  sure,  he  may  have  some  right,  being  a. native; 
but  it's  little  the  poor  fellow  can  do  now  with  his  rifle. 
How  is  this  managed  in  France,  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  ?  Do 
you  let  everybody  run  over  your  land  in  that  country, 
helter-skelter,  as  they  do  here,  shooting  the  game,  so  that 
a  gentleman  has  but  little  or  no  chance  with  his  gun  ? 99 

"  Bah !  diable,  no,  Meester  Deeck,"  replied  the  French- 
man ;  "  we  give,  in  France,  no  liberty,  except  to  the  ladi." 

"  Yes,  yes,  to  the  women,  I  know,"  said  Richard,  "  that 
is  your  Salic  law.  I  read,  sir,  all  kinds  of  books;  of 
France,  as  well  as  England ;  of  Greece,  as  well  as  Rome. 
But  if  I  were  in  'Duke's  place,  I  would  stick  up  advertise- 
ments to-morrow  morning,  forbidding  all  persons  to  shoot, 
or  trespass  in  any  manner,  on  my  woods.  I  could  write 
such  an  advertisement  myself,  in  an  hour,  as  would  put  a 
stop  to  the  thing  at  once." 

"  Richart,"  said  Major  Hartmann,  very  coolly  knocking 
the  ashes  from  his  pipe  into  the  spitting-box  by  his  side, 
"  now  listen ;  I  have  livet  seventy-five  years  on  tor  Mohawk, 
and  in  ter  woots.  You  hat  petter  mettle  as  mit  ter  deyvel, 
as  mit  ter  hunters.  Tey  live  mit  ter  gun,  and  a  rifle  is 
petter  as  ter  law." 

"Ain't  Marmaduke  a  judge  ?"  said  Richard  indignantly. 
"Where  is  the  use  of  being  a  judge,  or  having  a  judge,  if 
there  is  no  law  ?  Damn  the  fellow !  I  have  a  great  mind 
to  sue  him  in  the  morning  myself,  before  Squire  Doolittle, 
for  meddling  with  my  leaders.    I  am  not  afraid  of  his  rifle. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


I  can  shoot  too.    I  have  hit  a  dollar  many  a  time  at  fifty 
rods." 

"Thou  hast  missed  more  dollars  than  ever  thou  hast 
hit,  Dickon,"  exclaimed  the  cheerful  voice  of  the  Judge. 
"  But  we  will  now  take  our  evening's  repast,  which,  I  per- 
ceive by  Remarkable's  physiognomy,  is  ready.  Monsieur 
Le  Quoi,  Miss  Temple  has  a  hand  at  your  service.  Will 
you  lead  the  way,  my  child  ?" 

"Ah !  ma  chere  Mam'selle,  comme  je  suis  enchante ! " 
said  the  Frenchman.  "  II  ne  manque  que  les  dames  de 
faire  un  paradis  de  Templeton." 

Mr.  Grant  and  Mohegan  continued  in  the  hall,  while 
the  remainder  of  the  party  withdrew  to  an  eating  parlor, 
if  we  except  Benjamin,  who  civilly  remained,  to  close  the 
rear  after  the  clergyman,  and  to  open  the  front  door  for 
the  exit  of  the  Indian. 

"John,"  said  the  divine,  when  the  figure  of  Judge 
Temple  disappeared,  the  last  of  the  group,  "  to-morrow  is 
the  festival  of  the  nativity  of  our  blessed  Redeemer,  when 
the  Church  has  appointed  prayers  and  thanksgivings  to  be 
offered  up  by  her  children,  and  when  all  are  invited  to 
partake  of  the  mystical  elements.  As  you  have  taken  up 
the  cross,  and  become  a  follower  of  good  and  an  eschewer 
of  evil,  I, trust  I  shall  see  you  before  the  altar,  with  a  con- 
trite heart  and  a  meek  spirit." 

"John  will  come,"  said  the  Indian,  betraying  no  sur- 
prise ;  though  he  did  not  understand  all  the  terms  used  by 
the  other. 

"  Yes,"  continued  Mr.  Grant,  laying  his  hand  gently  on 
the  tawny  shoulder  of  the  aged  chief,  "  but  it  is  not  enough 
to  be  there  in  the  body;  you  must  come  in  the  spirit  and 
in  truth.    The  Redeemer  died  for  all,  for  the  poor  Indian 
as  well  as  for  the  white  man.    Heaven  knows  no  differ- 
ence in  color;  nor  must  earth  witness  a  separation  of  the(;YaM 
TJhurch.    It  is  good  and  profitable,  John,  to  freshen  the  - 
understanding,  and  support  the  wavering,  by  the  obsery-  tcu«J,| 
ance  of  our  holy  festivals;  but  all  form  is  but  stench  in^V 
the  nostrils  of  the  Holy  One,  unless  it  be  accompanied  by  vg 
a  devout  and  humble  spirit." 

The  Indian  stepped  back  a  little,  and,  raising  his  body 
to  its  utmost  powers  of  erection,  he  stretched  his  right 
arm  on  high,  and  dropped  his  fore-finger  downward,  as  if 
pointing  from  the  heavens,  then  striking  his  other  hand 
on  his  naked  breast,  he  said  with  energy, — 


86 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"The  eye  of  the  Great  Spirit  can  see  from  the  clouds: 
the  bosom  of  Mohegan  is  bare!" 

"It  is  well,  John,  and  I  hope  you  will  receive  profit  and 
consolation  from  the  performance  of  this  duty.  The 
Great  Spirit  overlooks  none  of  his  children;  and  the  man 
of  the  woods  is  as  much  an  object  of  his  care  as  he  who 
dwells  in  a  palace.  I  wish  you  a  good  night,  and  pray  God 
to  bless  you." 

The  Indian  bent  his  head,  and  they  separated,  the  one 
to  seek  his  hut,  and  the  other  to  join  the  party  at  the 
supper-table.  While  Benjamin  was  opening  the  door  for 
the  passage  of  the  chief,  he  cried,  in  a  tone  that  was  meant 
to  be  encouraging: — 

"The  parson  says  the  word  that  is  true,  John.  If-so-be 
that  they  took  count  of  the  color  of  the  skin  in  heaven,  why, 
they  might  refuse  to  muster  on  their  books  a  Christian- 
born,  like  myself,  just  for  the  matter  of  a  little  tan,  from 
cruising  in  warm  latitudes;  though,  for  the  matter  of  that, 
this  damned  nor'wester  is  enough  to  whiten  the  skin  of  a 
blackamore.  Let  the  reef  out  of  your  blanket,  man,  or 
your  red  hide  will  hardly  weather  the  night,  without  a 
touch  from  the  frost." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

For  here  the  exile  met  from  every  clime, 

And  spoke,  in  friendship,  every  distant  tongue.  Campbell. 

We  have  made  our  readers  acquainted  with  some  variety 
in  character  and  nations,  in  introducing  the  most  impor- 
tant personages  of  this  legend  to  their  notice :  but,  in  order 
to  establish  the  fidelity  of  our  narrative,  we  shall  briefly 
attempt  to  explain  the  reason  why  we  have  been  obliged  to 
present  so  -motley  a  dramatis  persona?. 

Europe,  at  the  period  of  our  tale,  was  in  the  commence- 
ment of  that  commotion  which  afterwards  shook  her  politi- 
cal institutions  to  the  centre.  Louis  the  Sixteenth  had 
been  beheaded,  and  a  nation  once  esteemed  the  most  re- 
fined among  the  civilized  people  of  the  world,  was  changing 
its  character,  and  substituting  cruelty  for  mercy,  and  sub- 
tlety and  ferocity  for  magnanimity  and  courage.  Thou- 
sands of  Frenchmen  were  compelled  to  seek  protection  in 
distant  lands.    Among  the  crowds  who  fled  from  France 


THE  PIONEERS. 


87 


and  her  islands,  to  the  United  States  of  America,  was  the 
gentleman  whom  we  have  already  mentioned  as  Monsieur 
Le  Quoi.  He  had  been  recommended  to  the  favor  of 
Judge  Temple,  by  the  head  of  an  eminent  mercantile 
house  in  New  York,  with  whom  Marmaduke  was  in  habits 
of  intimacy,  and  accustomed  to  exchange  good  offices.  At 
his  first  interview  with  the  Frenchman,  our  Judge  had 
discovered  him  to  be  a  man  of  breeding,  and  one  who  had 
seen  much  more  prosperous  days  in  his  own  country. 
From  certain  hints  that  had  escaped  him,  Monsieur  Le 
Quoi  was  suspected  of  having  been  a  West-India  planter, 
great  numbers  of  whom  had  fled  from  St.  Domingo  and 
the  other  islands,  and  were  now  living  in  the  Union,  in  a 
state  of  comparative  poverty,  and  some  in  absolute  want. 
The  latter  was  not,  however,  the  lot  of  Monsieur  Le  Quoi. 
He  had  but  little,  he  acknowledged;  but  that  little  was 
enough  to  furnish,  in  the  language  of  the  country,  an  as- 
sortment for  a  store. 

The  knowledge  of  Marmaduke  was  eminently  practical, 
and  there  was  no  part  of  a  settler's  life  with  which  he  was 
-not  familiar.  Under  his  direction,  Monsieur  Le  Quoi 
made  some  purchases,  consisting  of  a  few  cloths;  some 
groceries,  with  a  good  deal  of  gunpowder  and  tobacco;  a 
quantity  of  iron  ware,  among  which  was  a  large  propor- 
tion of  Barlow's  jack-knives,  potash-kettles,  and  spiders; 
a  very  formidable  collection  of  crockery,  of  the  coarsest 
quality  and  most  uncouth  forms ;  together  with  every  other 
common  article  that  the  art  of  man  has  devised  for  his 
wants,  not  forgetting  the  luxuries  of  looking-glasses  and 
Jews'-harps.  With  this  collection  of  valuables,  Monsieur 
Le  Quoi  had  stepped  behind  a  counter,  and,  with  a  wonder- 
ful pliability  of  temperament,  had  dropped  into  his  as- 
sumed character  as  gracefully  as  he  had  ever  moved  in  any 
other.  The  gentleness  and  suavity  of  his  manners  ren- 
dered him  extremely  popular;  besides  this,  the  women 
soon  discovered  that  he  had  a  taste.  His  calicoes  were  the 
finest,  or,  in  other  words,  the  most  showy,  of  any  that  were 
brought  into  the  country  ;  and  it  was  impossible  to  look 
at  the  prices  asked  for  his  goods  by  "  so  pretty  a  spoken 
man."  Through  these  conjoint  means,  the  affairs  of 
Monsieur  Le  Quoi  were  again  in  a  prosperous  condition, 
and  he  was  looked  up  to  by  the  .settlers  as  the  second-best 
man  on  the  "  Patent." 

The  term  "  Patent,"  which  we  have  already  used,  and 


88 


THE  PIONEERS. 


for  which  we  may  have  further  occasion,  meant  the  district 
of  country  that  had  been  originally  granted  to  old  Major 
Effingham  by  the  "  king's  letters  patent,"  and  which  had 
now  become,  by  purchase  under  the  act  of  confiscation, 
the  property  of  Marmaduke  Temple.  It  was  a  term  in 
common  use  throughout  the  new  parts  of  the  State;  and 
was  usually  annexed  to  the  landlord's  name,  as  "  Temple's 
or  Effingham's  Patent." 

Major  Hartmann^was  the  descendant  of  a  man  who,  in 
company  with  a  number  of  his  countrymen,  had  emi- 
grated, with  their  families,  from  the  banks  of  the  Rhine 
to  those  of  the  Mohawk.  This  migration  had  occurred  as 
far  back  as  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne;  and  their  descend- 
ants were  now  living  in  great  peace  and  plenty,  on  the  fer- 
tile borders  of  that  beautiful  stream. 

The  Germans  or  •  High  Dutchers,"  as  they  were  called, 
to  distinguish  them  from  the  original  or  Low  Dutch  colon- 
ists, were  a  very  peculiar  people.  They  possessed  all  the 
gravity  of  the  latter,  without  any  of  their  phlegm;  and, 
like  them,  the  "  High  Dutchers  "  were  industrious,  honest, 
and  economical.  G*nyw«/*v        A?  ' 


Fritz,  or  Frederick  Hartmann,  was  an  epitome  of  all  the 
vices  and  virtues,  foibles  and  excellences,  of  his  race>(  He 
was  passionate,  though  silent,  obstinate,  and  a  good  deal 
suspicious  of  strangers;  of  immovable  courage,  inflexible 
honesty,  and  undeviating  in  his  friendships.  Indeed, 
there  was  no  change  about  him,  unless  it  were  from  grave 
to  gay!}  He  was  serious  by  months,  and  jolly  by  weeks. 
He  had;  early  in  their  acquaintance,  formed  an  attachment 
for  Marmaduke  Temple,  who  was  the  only  man  that  could 
not  speak  High  Dutch  that  ever  gained  his  entire  confi- 
dence. Four  times  in  each  year,  at  periods  equidistant, 
he  left  his  low  stone  dwelling,  on  the  banks  of  the  Mo- 
hawk, and  travelled  thirty  miles,  through  the  hills,  to  the 
door  of  the  Mansion-house  in  Templeton.  Here  he  gener- 
ally stayed  a  week ;  and  was  reputed  to  spend  much  of  that 
time  in  riotous  living,  greatly  countenanced  by  Mr.  Rich- 
ard Jones.  But  every  one  loved  him,  even  to  Remarkable 
Pettibone,  to  whom  he  occasioned  some  additional  trouble; 
he  was  so  frank,  so  sincere,  and,  at  times,  so  mirthful.  He 
was  now  on  his  regular  Christmas  visit,  and  had  not  been 
in  the  village  an  hour  when  Richard  summoned  him 
to  fill  a  seat  in  the  sleigh,  to  meet  the  landlord  and  his 
daughter. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


89 


Before  explaining  the  character  and  situation  of  Mr. 
Grant,  it  will  be  necessary  to  recur  to  times  far  back  in  the 
brief  history  of  the  settlement. 

There  seems  to  be  a  tendency  in  human  nature  to  en- 
deavor to  provide  for  the  wants  of  this  world,  before  our 
attention  is  turned  to  the  business  of  the  other.  Eeligion 
was  a  quality  but  little  cultivated  amid  the  stumps  of 
Temple's  Patent  for  the  first  few  years  of  its  settlement ; 
but,  as  most  of  its  inhabitants  were  from  the  moral  States 
of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  when  the  wants  of 
nature  were  satisfied,  they  began  seriously  to  turn  their  at- 
tention to  the  introduction  of  those  customs  and  observ- 
ances which  had  been  the  principal  care  of  their  fore- 
fathers. There  was  certainly  a  great  variety  of  opinions 
on  the  subject  of  grace  and  free-will  among  the  tenantry 
of  Marmaduke  •  and,  when  we  take  into  consideration  the 
variety  of  the  religious  instruction  which  they  received, 
it  can  easily  be  seen  that  it  could  not  well  be  otherwise. 

Soon  after  the  village  had  been  formally  laid* out  into 
the  streets  and  blocks  that  resembled  a  city,  a  meeting  of 
its  inhabitants  had  been  convened,  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  propriety  of  esjiaj^lishing^^  This 
measure  originated  with  Richard,  who,  in  truth,  was  much 
disposed  to  have  the  institution  designated  a  university, 
or  at  least  a  college.  Meeting  after  meeting  was  held,  for 
this  purpose,  year  after  year.  The  "  resolutions  "  of  these 
assemblages  appeared  in  the  most  conspicuous  columns  of 
a  little,  blue-looking  newspaper,  that  was  already  issued 
weekly  from  the  garret  of  a  dwelling-house  in  the^  village, 
and  which  the  traveller  might  as  often  see  stuck  into  the 
fissure  of  a  stake,  erected  at  the  point  where  the  footpath 
from  the  log-cabin  of  some  settler  entered  the  highway, 
as  a  post-office  for  an  individual.  Sometimes  the  stake 
supported  a  small  box,  and  a  whole  neighborhood  re- 
ceived a  weekly  supply  for  their  literary  wants,  at  this 
point,  where  the  man  who  "  rides  post "  regularly  depos- 
ited a  bundle  of  the  precious  commodity.  To  these  flour- 
ishing resolutions,  which  briefly  recounted  the  general 
utility  of  education,  the  political  and  geographical  rights 
of  the  village  of  Templeton  to  a  participation  in  the  favors 
of  the  regents  of  the  university,  the  salubrity  of  the  air, 
and  wholesome  ness  of  the  water,  together  with  the  cheap- 
ness of  food  and  the  superior  state  of  morals  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, were  uniformly  annexed,  in  large  Roman  capi- 


go 


THE  PIONEERS. 


tals,  the  names  of  Marmaduke  Temple  as  chairman,  and 
Richard  Jones  as  secretary. 

Happily  for  the  success  of  this  undertaking,  the  regents 
were  not  accustomed  to  resist  these  appeals  to  their  gener- 
osity, whenever  there  was  the  smallest  prospect  of  a  dona- 
tion to  second  the  request.  Eventually  Judge  Temple 
concluded  to  bestow  the  necessary  land,  and  to  erect  the 
required  edifice  at  his  own  expense.  The  skill  of  Mr.,  or, 
as  he  was  now  called,  from  the  circumstance  of  having 
received  the  commission  of  a  justice  of  the  peace,  Squire 
Doolittle,  was  again  put  in  requisition;  and  the  science  of 
Mr.  Jones  was  once  more  resorted  to. 

We  shall  not  recount  the  different  devices  of  the  archi- 
tects on  the  occasion ;  nor  would  it  be  decorous  so  to  do, 
seeing  that  there  was  a  convocation  of  the  society  of  the 
ancient  and  honorable  fraternity  "  of  the  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons,"  at  the  head  of  whom  was  Richard,  in  the 
capacity  of  master,  doubtless  to  approve  or  reject  such  of 
the  plans  as,  in  their  wisdom,  they  deemed  to  be  for  the 
best.  The  knotty  point  was,  however,  soon  decided;  and, 
on  the  appointed  day,  the  brotherhood  marched  in  great 
state,  displaying  sundry  banners  and  mysterious  symbols, 
each  man  with  a  little  mimic  apron  before  him,  from  a 
most  cunningly  contrived  apartment  in  the  garret  of  the 
"  Bold  Dragoon,"  an  inn  kept  by  one  Captain  Hollister, 
to  the  site  of  the  intended  edifice.  Here  Richard  laid  the 
corner-stone,  with  suitable  gravity,  amidst  an  assemblage 
of  more  than  half  the  men,  and  all  the  women,  within  ten 
miles  of  Templeton. 

In  the  course  of  the  succeeding  week  there  was  another 
meeting  of  the  people,  not  omitting  swarms  of  the  gentler 
sex,  when  the  abilities  of  Hiram  at  the  "  square  rule  "  were 
put  to  the  test  of  experiment.  The  frame  fitted  well; 
and  the  skeleton  of  the  fabric  was  reared  without  a  single 
accident,  if  we  except  a  few  falls  from  horses  while  the 
laborers  were  returning  home  in  the  evening.  From  this 
time  the  work  advanced  with  great  rapidity,  and  in  the 
course  of  the  season  the  labor  was  completed;  the  edifice 
standing,  in  all  its  beauty  and  proportions,  the  boast  of  the 
village,  the  study  of  young  aspirants  for  architectural  fame, 
and  the  admiration  of  every  settler  on  the  Patent. 

It  was  a  long,  narrow  house  of  wood,  painted  white,  and 
more  than  half  windows;  and  when  the  observer  stood  at 
the  western  side  of  the  building,  the  edifice  offered  but  a 


THE  PIONEERS. 


91 


small  obstacle  to  a  full  view  of  the  rising  sun.  It  was,  in 
truth,  but  a  very  comfortless  open  place,  through  which 
the  daylight  shone  with  natural  facility.  On  its  front  were 
divers  ornaments  in  woods,  designed  by  Richard,  and  exe- 
cuted by  Hiram;  but  a  window  in  the  centre  of  the  second 
story,  immediately  over  the  door  or  grand  entrance,  and 
the  "  steeple,"  were  the  pride  of  the  building.  The  former 
was,  we  believe,  of  the  composite  order;  for  it  included  in 
its  composition  a  multitude  of  ornaments,  and  a  great 
variety  of  proportions.  It  consisted  of  an  arched  com- 
partment in  the  centre,  with  a  square  and  small  division 
on  either  side,  the  whole  encased  in  heavy  frames,  deeply 
and  laboriously  moulded  in  pine-wood,  and  lighted  with  a 
vast  number  of  blurred  and  green-looking  glass,  of  those 
dimensions  which  are  commonly  called  "  eight  by  ten." 
Blinds,  that  were  intended  to  be  painted  green,  kept  the 
window  in  a  state  of  preservation;  and  probably  might 
have  contributed  to  the  effect  of  the  whole,  had  not  the 
failure  in  the  public  funds,  which  seems  always  to  be  inci- 
dental to  any  undertaking  of  this  kind,  left  them  in  the 
sombre  coat  of  lead  color  with  which  they  had  been  origin- 
ally clothed.  The  "steeple"  was  a  little  cupola,  reared  on 
the  very  centre  of  the  roof,  on  four  tall  pillars  of  pine, 
that  were  fluted  with  a  gouge,  and  loaded  with  mouldings. 
On  the  tops  of  the  columns  was  reared  a  dome  or  cupola, 
resembling  in  shape  an  inverted  tea-cup,  without  its  bot- 
tom, from  the  centre  of  which  projected  a  spire,  or  shaft 
of  wood-,  transfixed  with  two  iron  rods,  that  bore  on  their 
ends  the  letters  N.  S.  E.  and  W.  in  the  same  metal.  The 
whole  was  surmounted  by  an  imitation  of  one  of  the  finny 
tribe,  carved  in  wood  by  the  hands  of  Richard,  and  painted 
what  he  called  a  "  scale-color."  This  animal  Mr.  J  ones 
affirmed  to  be  an  admirable  resemblance  of  a  great  favorite 
of  the  epicures  in  that  country,  which  bore  the  title  of 
"lake-fish;"  and  doubtless  the  assertion  was  true;  for,  al- 
though intended  to  answer  the  purposes  of  a  weather-cock, 
the  fish  was  observed  invariably  to  look,  with  a  longing 
eye,  in  the  direction  of  the  beautiful  sheet  of  water  that 
lay  imbedded  in  the  mountains  of  Templeton. 

For  a  short  time  after  the  charter  of  the  regents  was 
received,  the  trustees  of  this  institution  employed  a  gradu- 
ate of  one  of  the  eastern  colleges,  to  instruct  such  youths  as 
aspired  to  knowledge,  within  the  walls  of  the  edifice  which 
we  have  described.    The  upper  part  of  the  building  was 


92 


THE  PIONEERS. 


in  one  apartment,  and  was  intended  for  gala-days  and  ex- 
hibitions; and  the  lower  contained  two  rooms,  that  were 
intended  for  the  great  divisions  of  education,  namely,  the 
Latin  and  the  English  scholars.  The  former  were  never 
yery  numerous;  though  the  sounds  of  " nominative, pen- 
naa,  genitive,  penny,"  were  soon  heard  to  issue  from  the 
windows  of  the  room,  to  the  great  delight  and  manifest 
edification  of  the  passenger. 

Only  one  laborer  in  this  temple  of  Minerva,  however, 
was  known  to  get  so  far  as  to  attempt  a  translation  of 
Virgil.  He,  indeed,  appeared  at  the  annual  exhibition,  to 
the  prodigious  exultation  of  all  his  relatives,  a  farmer's 
family  in  the  vicinity,  and  repeated  the  whole  of  the  first 
eclogue  from  memory,  observing  the  intonations  of  the 
dialogue  with  much  judgment  and  effect.  The  sounds,  as 
they  proceeded  from  his  mouth,  of — 

"  Titty-ree  too  patty-lee  ree-coo-bans  sub  teg-mi-nee  f  aa  gy 
Syl-ves-trem  ten-oo-i  moo-sam,  med-i-taa-ris,  aa-ve-ny ,1— 

were  the  last  that  had  been  heard  in  that  building,  as 
probably  they  were  the  first  that  had  ever  been  heard,  in 
the  same  language,  there  or  anywhere  else.  By  this  time 
the  trustees  discovered  that  they  had  anticipated  the  age, 
and  the  instructor,  or  principal,  was  susperseded  by  a 
master,  who  went  on  to  teach  the  more  humble  lesson  of 
"the  more  haste  the  worse  speed,"  in  good  plain  English. 

From  this  time,  until  the  date  of  our  incidents,  the 
academy  was  a  common  country  school,  and  the  great 
room  of  the  building  was  sometimes  used  as  a  court-room, 
on  extraordinary  trials;  sometimes  for  conferences  of  the 
religious  and  the  morally  disposed,  in  the  evening;  at 
others  for  a  ball,  in  the  afternoon  given  under  the  auspices 
of  Richard;  and  on  Sundays,  invariably,  as  a  place  of 
public  worship. 

When  an  itinerant  priest  of  the  persuasion  of  the  Meth- 
odists, Baptists,  Universalists,  or  of  the  more  numerous 
sect  of  the  Presbyterians,  was  accidentally  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, he  was  ordinarily  invited  to  officiate,  and  was 
commonly  rewarded  for  his  services  by  a  collection  in  a 
hat,  before  the  congregation  separated.  When  no  such 
regular  minister  offered,  a  kind  of  colloquial  prayer,  or  two 
was  made  by  some  of  the  more  gifted  members,  and  a  ser- 
mon was  usually  read,  from  Sterne,  by  Mr.  Richard  Jones. 

The  consequence  of  this  desultory  kind  of  priesthood 


THE  PIONEERS. 


93 


was,  as  we  hare  already  intimated,  a  great  diversity  of 
opinion  on  the  more  abstruse  points  of  faith.  Each  sect 
had  its  adherents,  though  neither  was  regularly  organized 
and  disciplined.  Of  the  religious  education  of  Marmaduke 
we  have  already  written,  nor  was  the  doubtful  character 
of  his  faith  completely  removed  by  his  marriage.  The 
mother  of  Elizabeth  was  an  Episcopalian,  as,  indeed,  was 
the  mother  of  the  Judge  himself;  and  the  good  taste  of 
Marmaduke  revolted  at  the  familiar  colloquies  which  the 
leaders  of  the  conferences  held  with  the  Deity,  in  their 
nightly  meetings.  In  form,  he  was  certainly  an  Episco- 
palian, though  not  a  sectary  of  that  denomination.  On 
the  other  hand,  Eichard  was  as  rigid  in  the  observance  of 
the  canons  of  his  church  as  he  was  inflexible  in  his  opinions. 
Indeed,  he  had  once  or  twice  essayed  to  introduce  the 
Episcopal  form  of  service,  on  the  Sundays  that  the  pulpit 
was  vacant;  but  Eichard  was  a  good  deal  addicted  to 
carrying  things  to  an  excess,  and  then  there  was  something 
so  papal  in  his  air,  that  the  greater  part  of  his  hearers  de- 
serted him  on  the  second  Sabbath ;  on  the  third  his  only^ 
auditor  was  Ben  Pump,  who  had  all  the  obstinate  and  en- 
lightened orthodoxy  of  a  High  Churchman. 

Before  the  war  of  the  Eevolution,  the  English  Church 
was  supported,  in  the  colonies,  with  much  interest,  by 
some  of  its  adherents  in  the  mother  country,  and  a  few  of 
the  congregations  were  very  amply  endowed.  But,  for  a 
season,  after  the  independence  of  the  States  was  estab- 
lished, this  sect  of  Christians  languished,  for  the  want  of 
the  highest  order  of  its  priesthood.  Pious  and  suitable 
divines  were  at  length  selected,  and  sent  to  the  mother 
country,  to  receive  that  authority,  which,  it  is  understood, 
can  only  be  transmitted  directly  from  one  to  the  other, 
and  thus  obtain,  in  order  to  preserve,  that  unity  in  their 
churches,  which  properly  belonged  to  a  people  of  the  same 
nation.  But  unexpected  difficulties  presented  themselves, 
in  the  oaths  with  which  the  policy  of  England  had  fettered 
their  establishment ;  and  much  time  was  spent  before  a 
conscientious  sense  of  duty  would  permit  the  prelates  of 
Britain  to  delegate  the  authority  so  earnestly  sought. 
Time,  patience,  and  zeal,  however,  removed  every  impedi- 
ment ;  and  the  venerable  men,  who  had  been  set  apart  by 
the  American  churches,  at  length  returned  to  their  expect- 
ing_  dioceses,  endowed  with  the  most  elevated  functions  of 
their  earthly  church.    Priests  and  deacons  were  ordained; 


94 


THE  PIONEERS. 


and  missionaries  provided,  to  keep  alive  the  expiring  flame 
of  devotion  in  such  members  as  were  deprived  of  the  or- 
dinary administrations,  by  dwelling  in  new  and  unorganized 
districts. 

Of  this  number  was  Mr.  Grant.  He  had  been  sent  into 
the  county  of  which  Templeton  was  the  capital,  and  had 
been  kindly  invited  by  Marmaduke,  and  officiously  pressed 
by  Richard,  to  take  up  his  abode  in  the  village.  A  small 
and  humble  dwelling  was  prepared  for  his  family,  and  the 
divine  had  made  his  appearance  in  the  place  but  a  few 
days  previously  to  the  time  of  his  introduction  to  the  reader. 
As  his  forms  were  entirely  new  to  most  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  a  clergyman  of  another  denomination  had  previously 
occupied  the  field,  by  engaging  the  academy,  the  first  Sun- 
day after  his  arrival  was  suffered  to  pass  in  silence ;  but 
now  that  his  rival  had  passed  on,  like  a  meteor,  filling  the 
air  with  the  light  of  his  wisdom,  Richard  was  empowered 
to  give  notice  that  "  Public  worship,  after  the  forms  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  would  be  held  on  the  night 
before  Christmas,  in  the  long  room  of  the  academy  in 
Templeton,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Grant." 

This  annunciation  excited  great  commotion  among  the 
different  sectaries.  Some  wondered  as  to  the  nature  of 
the  exhibition;  others  sneered;  but  a  far  greater  part, 
recollecting  the  essays  of  Richard  in  that  way,  and  mindful 
of  the  liberality,  or  rather  laxity  of  Marmaduke's  notions 
on  the  subject  of  sectarianism,  thought  it  most  prudent  to 
be  silent.  ■ 

The  expected  evening  was,  however,  the  wonder  of  the 
hour;  nor  was  the  curiosity  at  all  diminished,  when  Richard 
and  Benjamin,  on  the  morning  of  the  eventful  day,  were 
seen  to  issue  from  the  woods  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
village,  each  bearing  on  his  shoulders  a  large  bunch  of 
evergreens.  This  worthy  pair  was  observed  to  enter  the 
academy,  and  carefully  to  fasten  the  door,  after  which  their 
proceedings  remained  a  profound  secret  to  the  rest  of  the 
village;  Mr.  Jones,  before  he  commenced  this  mysterious 
business,  having  informed  the  schoolmaster,  to  the  great 
delight  of  the  white-headed  flock  he  governed,  that  there 
could  be  no  school  that  day.  Marmaduke  was  apprised  of 
all  these  preparations,  by  letter,  and  it  was  especially  ar- 
ranged, that  he  and  Elizabeth  should  arrive  in  season  to 
participate  in  the  solemnities  of  the  evening.  , 

After  this  digression,  we  shall  return  to  our  narrative. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


9S 


CHAPTER  IX. 

• 

Now  all  admire,  in  each  high-flavored  dish, 

The  capabilities  of  flesh— fowl- fish; 

In  order  due  each  guest  assumes  his  station, 

Throbs  high  his  breast  with  fond  anticipation 

And  prelibates  the  joys  of  mastication.  Heliogabaliad. 

The  apartment  to  which  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  handed 
Elizabeth,  communicated  with  the  hall,  through  the  door 
that  led  under  the  urn  which  was  supposed  to  contain  the 
ashes  of  Dido.  The  room  was  spacious,  and  of  very  just 
proportions;  but  in  its  ornaments  and  furniture,  the  same 
diversity  of  taste,  and  imperfection  of  execution,  were  to 
be  observed,  as  existed  in  the  hall.  Of  furniture,  there 
were  a  dozen  green,  wooden  arm-chairs,  with  cushions  of 
moreen,  taken  from  the  same  piece  as  the  petticoat  of 
Remarkable.  The  tables  were  spread,  and  their  materials 
and  workmanship  could  not  be  seen;  but  they  were  heavy 
and  of  great  size.  An  enormous  mirror,  in  a  gilt  frame' 
hung  against  the  wall,  and  a  cheerful  fire,  of  the  hard  or 
sugar  maple,  was  burning  on  the  hearth.  The  latter  was 
the  first  object  that  struck  the  attention  of  the  Judge 
who,  on  beholding  it,  exclaimed,  rather  angrily  to  Rich- 
ard,—  J 

.  "  How  often  have  I  forbidden  the  use  of  the  suo-ar-maple 
m  my  dwelling!  The  sight  of  that  sap,  as  it  exudes  with 
the  heat,  is  painful  to  me,  Richard.  Really,  it  behooves 
the  owner  of  woods  so  extensive  as  mine,  to  be  cautious 
what  example  he  sets  his  people,  who  are  already  felling 
the  forests,  as  if  no  end  could  be  found  to  their  treasures 
nor  any  limits  to  their  extent.  If  we  go  on  in  this  way' 
twenty  years  hence  we  shall  want  fuel." 

"Fuel  in  these  hills,  cousin  'Duke!"  exclaimed  Rich- 

?£  I  £  dnriS101^  7uel!  y°u  miSht  ™  well  predict 
that  the  fish  will  die,  for  the  want  of  water  in  the  lake 
because  I  intend,  when  the  frost  gets  out  of  the  ground,  to 
lead  one  or  two  of  the  springs,  through  logs,  into  the  vil- 
M   '     lk  ^ U        alwayS  a  Httle  wild  011  such  sub«jects, 


96 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  Is  it  wildness,"  returned  the  Judge,  earnestly, "  to  con- 
demn a  practice  which  devotes  these  jewels  of  the  forest, 
these  precious  gifts  of  nature,  these  mines  of  comfort  and 
wealth,  to  the  common  uses  of  a  fire-place  ?  But  I  must, 
and  will,  the  instant  the  snow  is  off  the  earth,  send  out  a 
party  into  the  mountains  to  explore  for  coal." 

"Coal!"  echoed  Richard;  "who  the  devil  do  you  think 
will  dig  for  coal,  when  in  hunting  for  a  hushel  he  would 
have  to  rip  up  more  roots  of  trees,  than  would  keep  him 
in  fuel  for  a  twelvemonth?  Poh!  poh!  Marmaduke,  you 
should  leave  the  management  of  these  things  to  me,  who 
have  a  natural  turn  that  way.  It  was  I  that  ordered  this 
fire,  and  a  noble  one  it  is,  to  warm  the  blood  of  my  pretty 
cousin  Bess." 

"  The  motive,  then,  must  be  your  apology,  Dickon,"  said 
the  Judge.  "  But,  gentlemen,  we  are  waiting.  Elizabeth, 
my  child,  take  the  head  of  the  table;  Richard,  I  see, 
means  to  spare  me  the  trouble  of  carving,  by  sitting  oppo- 
site to  you." 

"To  be  sure  I  do,"  cried  Richard;  "here  is  a  turkey  to 
carve;  and  I  flatter  myself  that  I  understand  carving  a 
turkey,  or,  for  that  matter,  a  goose,  as  well  as  any  man 
alive.  Mr.  Grant!  where's  Mr.  Grant?  will  you  please  to 
say  grace,  sir  ?  Everything  is  getting  cold.  Take  a  thing 
from  the  fire,  this  cold  weather,  and  it  will  freeze  in  five 
minutes.  Mr.  Grant!  we  want  you  to  say  grace.  'For 
what  we  are  about  to  receive,  the  Lord  make  us  thankful/ 
Come,  sit  down,  sit  down.  Do  you  eat  wing  or  breast, 
cousin  Bess  ?  " 

But  Elizabeth  had  not  taken  her  seat,  nor  was  she  m 
readiness  to  receive  either  the  wing  or  breast.  Her  laugh- 
ing eyes  were  glancing  at  the  arrangements  of  the  table, 
and  the  quality  and  selection  of  the  food.  The  eyes  of  the 
father  soon  met  the  wondering  looks  of  his  daughter,  and 
he  said,  with  a  smile, — 

"  You  perceive,  my  child,  how  much  we  are  indebted  to 
Remarkable,  for  her  skill  in  housewifery;  she  has  indeed 
provided  a  noble  repast ;  such  as  well  might  stop  the  crav- 
ings of  hunger." 

"Law!"  said  Remarkable,  "I'm  glad  if  the  Judge  is 
pleased;  but  I'm  notional  that  you'll  find  the  sa'ce  over- 
done. I  thought,  as  Elizabeth  was  coming  home,  that  a 
body  could  do  no  less  than  make  things  agreeable." 

"  My  daughter  has  now  grown  to  woman's  estate,  and  is 


THE  PIONEERS*  97 

from  this  moment  mistress  of  my  house,"  said  the  Judge; 
"  it  is  proper  that  all  who  live  with  me  address  her  as  Miss 
Temple." 

"Do  tell!"  exclaimed  Remarkable,  a  little  aghast; 
"  well,  who  ever  heerd  of  a  young  woman's  being  called 
Miss  ?  If  the  Judge  had  a  wife  now,  I  shouldn't  think  of 
calling  her  anything  but  Miss  Temple ;  but — '  • 

"Having  nothing  but  a  daughter,  you  will  observe  that 
style  to  her,  if  you  please,  in  future,"  interrupted  Marma- 
t  duke. 

As  the  Judge  looked  seriously  displeased,  and,  at  such 
moments,  carried  a  particularly  commanding  air  with 
him,  the  wary  housekeeper  made  no  reply;  and,  Mr.  Grant 
entering  the  room,  the  whole  party  were  soon  seated  at  the 
table.  As  the  arrangements  of  this  repast  were  much  in 
the  prevailing  taste  of  that  period  and  country,  we  shall 
endeavor  to  give  a  short  description  of  the  appearance  of 
the  banquet. 

The  table-linen  was  of  the  most  beautiful  damask,  and 
the  plates  and  dishes  of  real  china,  an  article  of  great 
luxury  at  this  early  period  in  American  commerce.  The 
knives  and  forks  were  of  exquisitely  polished  steel,  and 
were  set  in  unclouded  ivory.  So  much,  being  furnished 
by  the  wealth  of  Maririaduke,  was  not  only  comfortable, 
but  even  elegant.  ■  The  contents  of  the  several  dishes,  and 
their  positions,  however,  were  the  result  of  the  sole  judg- 
ment of  Remarkable.  Before  Elizabeth,  was  placed  an 
enormous  roasted  turkey,  and  before  Richard,  one  boiled. 
In  the  centre  of  the  table,  stood  a  pair  of  heavy  silver  cas- 
tors, surrounded  by  four  dishes;  one  a  fricassee,  that  con- 
sisted of  gray  squirrels;  another  of  fish  fried;  a  third  of 
fish  boiled;  the  last  was  a  venison  steak.  Between  these 
dishes  and  the  turkeys,  stood,  on  the  one  side,  a  prodi- 
gious chine  of  roasted  bear's  meat,  and  on  the  other  a 
boiled  leg  of  delicious  mutton.  Interspersed  among  this 
load  of  meats,  was  every  species  of  vegetables  that  the  sea- 
son and  country  afforded.  The  four  corners  were  gar- 
nished with  plates  of  cake.  On  one  was  piled  certain 
curiously  twisted  and  complicated  figures,  called  "nut- 
cakes."  On  another  were  heaps  of  a  black-looking  sub- 
tance,  which,  receiving  its  hue  from  molasses,  was  properly 
termed  "sweet-cake;"  a  wonderful  favorite  in  the  coterie 
of  Remarkable.  A  third  was  filled,  to  use  the  language 
of  the  housekeeper,  with  "cards  of  ginger-bread;"  and 


98  THE  PIONEERS. 

the  last  held  a  "plum-cake,"  so  called  from  the  number 
of  large  raisins  that  were  showing  their  black  heads,  m  a 
substance  of  a  suspiciously  similar  color.  At  each  corner 
of  the  table  stood  saucers,  filled  with  a  thick  fluid,  ol 
somewhat  equivocal  color  and  consistence,  variegated  with 
small  dark  lumps  of  a  substance  that  resembled  nothing 
but  itself,  which  Remarkable  termed  her  "sweet-meats. 
At  the  side  of  each  'plate,  which  was  placed  bottom  up- 
wards, with  its  knife  and  fork  most  accurately  crossed 
above  it,  stood  another,  of  smaller  size,  containing  a 
motley-looking  pie,  composed  of  triangular  slices  of  apple, 
mince,  pumpkin,  cranberry,  and  custard,  so  arranged  as  to 
form  an  entire  whole.  Decanters  of  brandy,  rum,  gin, 
and  wine,  with  sundry  pitchers  of  cider,  beer,  and  one  his- 
sing vessel  of  "  flip/'  were  put  wherever  an  opening  would 
admit  of  their  introduction.  Notwithstanding  the  size 
of  the  tables,  there  was  scarcely  a  spot  where  the  ricu 
damask  could  be  seen,  so  crowded  were  the  dishes,  with 
their  associated  bottles,  plates,  and  saucers.  The  object 
seemed  to  be  profusion,  and  it  was  obtained  entirely  at  the 
expense  of  order  and  elegance. 

All  the  guests,  as  well  as  the  Judge  himself,  seemed  per- 
fectly familiar  with  this  description  of  fare,  for  each  one 
commenced  eating,  with  an  appetite  that  promised  to  do 
great  honor  to  Remarkable's  taste  and  skill.  \\  hat  ren- 
dered this  attention  to  the  repast  a  little  surprising,  was 
the  fact,  that  both  the  German  and  Richard  had  been 
summoned  from  another  table,  to  meet  the  Judge;  but 
Manor  Hartmann  both  ate  and  drank  without  any  rule, 
when  on  his  excursions;  and  Mr.  Jones  invariably  made  it 
a  point  to  participate  in  the  business  m  hand,  let  it  be 
what  it  would.  The  host  seemed  to  think  some  apology 
necessary  for  the  warmth  he  had  betrayed  on  the  subject 
of  the  fire-wood,  and  when  the  party  were  comfortably 
seated,  and  engaged  with  their  knives  and  forks,  he  ob- 
served,—  i  ,  , 

"The  wastefulness  of  the  settlers,  with  the  noble  trees 
of  this  country,  is  shocking,  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  as  doubt- 
less you  have  noticed.  I  have  seen  a  man  fell  a  pine, 
when  he  has  been  in  want  of  fencing-stuff,  and  roll  his 
first  cuts  into  the  gap,  where  he  left  it  to  rot,  though  its 
top  would  have  made  rails  enough  to  answer  his  purpose, 
and  its  butt  would  have  sold  in  the  Philadelphia  market 
for  twenty  dollars." 


THE  PIONEERS.  99 

"And  how  the  devil— I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr.  Grant/' 
interrupted  Richard;  "but  how  is  the  poor  devil  to  get 
his  logs  to  the  Philadelphia  market,  pray  ?  put  them  in 
his  pocket,  ha!  as  you  would  a  handful  of  chesnuts,  or  a 
bunch  of  checkerberries  ?  I  should  like  to  see  you  walk- 
ing up  High  Street,  with  a  pine  log  in  each  pocket !  Poh  f 
poh!  cousin  'Duke,  there  are  trees  enough  for  us  all,  and 
some  to  spare.  Why,  I  can  hardly  tell  which  way  the 
wind  blows,  when  I'm  out  in  the  clearings,  they  are  so 
thick,  and  so  tall;  I  couldn't  at  all,  if  it  wasn't  for  the 
clouds,  and  I  happen  to  know  all  the  points  of  the  com- 
.  pass,  as  it  were,  by  heart." 

"Aye,  aye,  Squire/'  cried  Benjamin,  who  had  now  en- 
tered, and  taken  his  place  behind  the  Judge's  chair,  a  little 
aside  withal,  m  order  to  be  ready  for  any  observation  like 
the  present,  "look  aloft,  sir,  look  aloft.  The  old  seamen 
say  that  the  devil  wouldn't  make  a  sailor,  unless  he 
looked  aloft.  As  for  the  compass,  why,  there  is  no  such 
thing  as  steering  without  one.  I'm  sure  I  never  lose  sight 
of  the  main-top,  as  I  call  the  Squire's  lookout  on  the  roof 
but  I  set  my  compass,  d'ye  see,  and  take  the  bearings  and 
distance  of  things,  in  order  to  work  out  my  course,  if-so- 
be  that  it  should  cloud  up,  or  the  tops  of  the  trees  should 
shut  out  the  light  of  heaven.  The  steeple  of  St.  Paul's, 
now  that  we  have  got  it  on  end,  is  a  great  help  to  the 
navigation  of  the  woods,  for,  by  the  Lord  Harry,  as  I 
was"—  J 

.  "  J*  is  well>  Benjamin,"  interrupted  Marmaduke,  observ- 
ing that  his  daughter  manifested  displeasure  at  the  major- 
domo  s  familiarity;  "but  you  forget  there  is  a  lady  in 
company,  and  the  women  love  to  do  most  of  the  talking 
themselves."  & 
"The  Judge  says  the  true  word,"  cried  Benjamin,  with 
one  of  his  discordant  laughs;  "now  here  is  Mistress 
Kemarkable  Prettybones;  just  take  the  stopper  off  her 

2ngil!f,^nd  y°U'n  hear  a  gabblin&>  worse  like  than  if  you 
should  happen  to  fall  to  leeward  in  crossing  a  French 
privateer,  or  some  such  thing,  mayhap,  as  a  dozen  mon- 
keys stowed  in  one  bag." 

It  were  impossible  to  say  how  perfect  an  illustration  of 
the  truth  of  Benjamin's  assertion  the  housekeeper  would 
nave  furnished,  if  she  h  d  dared;  but  the  Judge  looked 
sternly  at  her,  and,  unwilling  to  incur  his  resentment,  yet 
unable  to  contain  her  anger,  she  threw  herself  out  of  the 


IOO 


THE  PIONEERS. 


room,  with  a  toss  of  the  body,  that  nearly  separated  her 
frail  form  in  the  centre.  ,  , 

"Richard,"  said  Marmaduke,  observing  that  his  dis- 
pleasure had  produced  the  desired  effect,  "  can  you  inform 
me  of  anything  concerning  the  youth  whom  I  so  unfor- 
tunately wounded  ?  I  found  him  on  the  mountain,  hunt- 
ing in  company  with  the  Leather-Stocking,  as  if  they  were 
of  the  same  family;  but  there  is  a  manifest  difference  m 
their  manners.  The  youth  delivers  himself  m  chosen 
language;  such  as  is  seldom  heard  in  these  hills,  and  such 
as  occasions  great  surprise  to  me,  how  one  so  meanly  clad, 
and  following  so  lowly  a  pursuit,  could  attain  Mohegan  ; 
also  knew  him.'  Doubtless  he  is  a  tenant  of  .Natty  s  hut. 
Did  you  remark  the  language  of  the  lad,  Monsieur  Le 

Q^°Certainement,  Monsieur  Tempi',"  returned  the  French- 
man, "  he  deed  conovairse  in  de  excellent  Anglaise.  ■ 

"The  boy  is  no  miracle,"  exclaimed  Richard;  1  ve 
known  children  that  were  sent  to  school  early,  talk  much 
better,  before  they  were  twelve  years  old  There  was 
Zared  Coe,  old  Nehemiah's  son,  who  first  settled  on  the 
beaver-dam  meadow,  he  could  write  almost  as  good  a  hand 
as  myself,  when  he  was  fourteen;  though  it  s  true,  I  helped 
to  teach  him  a  little,  in  the  evenings.  But  this  shooting 
gentleman  ought  to  be  put  in  the  stocks,  if  he  ever  takes 
I  rein  in  his  hand  again.  He  is  the  most  awkward  fellow 
about  a  horse  I  ever  met  with.  I  daresay,  he  never  drove 
anything  but  oxen  in  his  life."  ,  ,  . 

"  Theie,  I  think,  Dickon,  you  do  the  lad  injustice,  said 
the  Judge;  "he  uses  much  discretion  in  critical  moments. 
Dost  thou  not  think  so,  Bess  ?  "       .  _ 

There  was  nothing  in  this  question  particularly  to  ex- 
cite blushes,  but  Elizabeth  started  from  the  reverie  into 
which  she  had  fallen,  and  colored  to  her  forehead,  as  she 

M«TTme,  dear  sir,  he  appeared  extremely  skillful,  and 
prompt,  and  courageous;  but  perhaps  cousin  Richard  will 
say,  I  am  as  ignorant  as  the  gentleman  himself. 

"Gentleman!"  echoed  Richard;  "do  you  call  such 
chaps  gentlemen,  at  school,  Elizabeth  ?  " 

"Every  man  is  a  gentleman  that  knows  how  to  treat  a 
woman  with  respect  and  consideration,"  returned  the 
voung  lady,  promptly,  and  a  little  smartly.  . 

"  So  much  for  hesitating  to  appear  before  the  heiress  in 


THE  PIONEERS. 


101 


his  shirt  sleeves/'  cried  Richard,  winking  at  Monsieur 
Le  Quoi,  who  returned  the  wink  with  one  eye,  while  he 
rolled  the  other,  with  an  expression  of  sympathy,  towards 
the  young  lady.  "  Well,  well,  to  me  he  seemed  anything  but 
a  gentleman.  I  must  say,  however,  for  the  lady,  that  he 
draws  a  good  trigger,  and  has  a  true  aim.  He's  good  at 
shooting  a  buck,  ha !  Marmaduke  ?  " 

"Richart,"  said  Major  Hartmann,  turning  his  grave 
countenance  towards  the  gentleman  he  addressed,  with 
much  earnestness,  "  ter  poy  is  goot.  He  savet  your  life, 
and  my  life,  and  ter  life  of  Tominie  Grant,  and  ter  life  of 
ter  Frenchman;  and,  Richart,  he  shall  never  vont  a  pet 
to  sleep  in  vile  olt  Fritz  Hartmann  has  a  shingle  to  cover 
his  het  mit." 

"Well,  well,  as  you  please,  old  gentleman/'  returned 
Mr.  Jones,  endeavoring  to  look  indifferent;  "put  him 
into  your  own  stone  house,  if  you  will,  Major.  I  dare 
say  the  lad  never  slept  in  anything  better  than  a  bark 
shanty  in  his  life,  unless  it  was  some  such  hut  as  the 
cabin  of  Leather-Stocking.  I  prophesy  you  will  soon  spoil 
him :  any  one  could  see  how  proud  he  grew,  in  a  short 
time,  just  because  he  stood  by  my  horses'  heads,  while  I 
turned  them  into  the  highway." 

"  No,  no,  my  old  friend,"  cried  Marmaduke,  "  it  shall 
be  my  task  to  provide  in  some  manner  for  the  youth.  I 
owe  him  a  debt  of  my  own,  besides  the  service  he  has  done 
me,  through  my  friends.  And  yet  I  anticipate  some  little 
trouble,  in  inducing  him  to  accept  of  my  services.  He 
showed  a  marked  dislike,  I  thought,  Bess,  to  my  offer  of  a 
residence  within  these  walls  for  life." 
,  "  Really,  dear  sir,"  said  Elizabeth,  projecting  her  beau- 
tiful under-lip,  "  I  have  not  studied  the  gentleman  so 
closely  as  to  read  his  feelings  in  his  countenance.  I 
thought  he  might  very  naturally  feel  pain,  from  his  wound, 
and  therefore  pitied  him;  but" — and  as  she  spoke  she 
glanced  her  eye,  with  suppressed  curiosity,  towards  the 
major-domo — "  I  dare  say,  sir,  that  Benjamin  can  tell  you 
something  about  him.  He  cannot  have  been  in  the  vil- 
lage, and  Benjamin  not  have  seen  him  often." 

"Aye,  I  have  seen  the  boy  before,"  said  Benjamin,  who 
wanted  little  encouragement  to  speak;  "he  has  been  back- 
ing and  filling  in  the  wake  of  Natty  Bumppo,  through 
the  mountains,  after  deer,  like  a  Dutch  long-boat  in  tow 
of  an  Albany  sloop.   He  carries  a  good  rifle,  too.  The 


102 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Leather-Stocking  said,  in  my  hearing  before  Betty  Hollis- 
ter's  barroom  fire,  no  later  than  Tuesday  night,  that  the 
younker  was  certain  death  to  the  wild  beasts.  If-so-be  he 
can  kill  the  wild-cat  that  has  been  heard  moaning  on  the 
lake  side  since  the  hard  frosts  and  deep  snows  have  driven 
the  deer  to  herd,  he  will  be  doing  the  thing  that  is  good. 
Your  wild-cat  is  a  bad  shipmate,  and  should  be  made  to 
cruise  out  of  the  track  of  Christian  men." 

"Lives  he  in  the  hut  of  Bumppo  ?'?  asked  Marmaduke, 
with  some  interest. 

"Cheek  by  jowl:  the  Wednesday  will  be  three  weeks 
since  he  first  hove  in  sight,  in  company  with  Leather- 
Stocking.  They  had  captured  a  wolf  between  them,  and 
had  brought  in  his  scalp  for  the  bounty.  That  Mister 
Bump-ho  has  a  handy  turn  with  him,  in  taking  off  a  scalp, 
and  there's  them,  in  this  here  village,  who  say  he  larnt 
the  trade  by  working  on  Christian  men.  If-so-be  that 
there  is  truth  in  the  saying,  and  I  commanded  along  shore 
here,  as  your  honor  does,  why,  d'ye  see,  I'd  bring  him  to 
the  gangway  for  it,  yet.  There's  a  very  pretty  post  rigged 
alongside  of  the  stocks;  and  for  the  matter  of  a  cat,  I  can 
fit  one  with  my  own  hands;  aye!  and  use  it  too,  for  the 
want  of  a  better." 

"  You  are  not  to  credit  the  idle  tales  you  hear  of  Natty ; 
he  has  a  kind  of  natural  right  to  gain  a  livelihood  in  these 
mountains;  and  if  the  idlers  in  the  village  take  it  into 
their  heads  to  annoy  him,  as  they  sometimes  do  reputed 
rogues,  they  shall  find  him  protected  by  the  strong  arm  of 
the  law." 

"  Ter  rifle  is  petter  as  ter  law,"  said  the  Major,  senten- 
ti  ou  sly. 

"That  for  his  rifle!"  exclaimed  Richard,  snapping  his 
fingers;  "Ben  is  right,  and  I" —  He  was  stopped  by  the 
sounds  of  a  common  ship-bell,  that  had  been  elevated  to 
the  belfry  of  the  academy,  which  now  announced,  by  its 
incessant  ringing,  that  the  hour  for  the  appointed  service 
had  arrived.  For  this,  and  every  other  instance  of  his 
goodness' — I  beg  pardon,  Mr.  Grant,  will  you  please  to 
return  thanks,  sir  ?  it  is  time  we  should  be  moving,  as  we 
are  the  only  Episcopalians  in  the  neighborhood ;  that  is, 
is  and  Benjamin,  and  Elizabeth ;  for  I  count  half-breeds, 
like  Marmaduke,  as  bad  as  heretics." 

The  divine  arose,  i.nd  performed  the  office  meekly  and 
fervently,  and  the  whole  party  instantly  prepared  them- 
selves for  the  church — or  rather  academy. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


103 


OHAPTEE  X. 

And,  calling  sinful  man  to  pray, 

Loud,  long,  and  deep,  the  bell  had  tolled. 

Scott's  Burgher. 

While  Richard  and  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  attended  by 
Benjamin,  proceeded  to  the  academy  by  a  footpath 
through  the  snow,  the  Judge,  his  daughter,  the  divine, 
and  the  Major,  took  a  more  circuitous  route  to  the  same 
place  by  the  streets  of  the  village. 

The  moon  had  risen,  and  its  orb  was  shedding  a  flood  of 
light  over  the  dark  outline  of  pines  which  crowned  the 
eastern  mountain.  In  many  climates  the  sky  would  have 
been  thought  clear  and  lucid  for  a  noontide.  The  stars 
twinkled  in  the  heavens,  like  the  last  glimmerings  of  dis- 
tant fire,  so  much  were  they  obscured  by  the  overwhelm- 
ing radiance  of  the  atmosphere;  the  rays  from  the  moon 
striking  upon  the  smooth  white  surfaces  of  the  lake  and 
fields,  reflecting  upwards  a  light  that  was  brightened  by 
the  spotless  color  of  the  immense  bodies  of  snow  which 
covered  the  earth. 

Elizabeth  employed  herself  with  reading  the  signs,  one 
of  which  appeared  over  almost  every  door;  while  the 
sleigh  moved  steadily,  and  at  an  easy  gait,  along  the  prin- 
cipal street.  Not  only  new  occupations,  but  names  that 
were  strangers  to  her  ears,  met  her  gaze  at  every  step  they 
proceeded.  The  very  houses  seemed  changed.  This  had 
been  altered  by  an  addition ;  that  had  been  painted :  an- 
other had  been  erected  on  the  site  of  an  old  acquaintance, 
which  had  been  banished  from  the  earth  almost  as  soon  as 
it  made  its  appearance  on  it.  All  were,  however,  pouring 
forth  their  inmates,  who  uniformly  held  their  way  towards 
the  point  where  the  expected  exhibition  of  the  conjoint 
taste  of  Richard  and  Benjamin  was  to  be  made. 

After  viewing  the  buildings,  which  really  appeared  to 
some  advantage,  under  the  bright  but  mellow  light  of  the 
moon,  our  heroine  turned  her  eyes  to  a  scrutiny  of  the  dif- 
ferent figures  that  they  passed,  in  search  of  any  form  that 


m  THE  PIONEERS. 

she  knew.  But  all  seemed  alike,  as  muffled  in  cloaks, 
hoods,  coats,  or  tippets,  they  glided  along  the  ^owpas- 
sages  in  the  snow  which  led  under  the  nouses>ftllh;^ 
the  bank  that  had  been  thrown  up  ffi  excavating  the  deep 
path  in  which  they  trod.  Once  or  twice  she  thought 
Lre  was  a  stature  or  a  gait  that  she  recol ected ;  but  the 
person  who  owned  it  instantly  disappeared  behind  one  ol 
Lose  enormous  piles  of  wood  that  lay  before  most  of .  the 
doors.  It  was  only  as  they  turned  from  the  mam  street 
into  another  that  intersected  it  at  right  angles,  and  which 
led  directly  to  the  place  of  meeting,  that  she  recognized  a 
fapp  and  building  that  she  knew.  . 

The  house  stood  at  one  of  the  principal  corners  m  he 
village-  and,  by  its  well-trodden  doorway,  as  well  as  the 
SnTh'at  was  swinging  with  a  kind  ^^f^^X 
blasts  that  occasionally  swept  down  the  lake,  was  clear£ 
one  of  the  most  frequented  inns  m  the  place.    The  bulla 
ing  was  only  of  one  story;  but  the  dormer •  windows  m  the 
•oof,  the  paint,  the  window-shutters,  and 
that  shone  through  the  open  door,  gav e  it n  air  of  com 
fort  that  was  not  possessed  by  many  of  its  neighbors  Ihe 
sign  was  suspended  from  a  common  ale-house  post  and 
represented  the  figure  of  a  horseman,  armed  with  sabre 
anPd ?iefi  and  surmounted  by  a  ^earskm  cap  with  a 
fiery  animal  that  he  bestrode  "rampant  Ail^epar 
ticulars  were  easily  to  be  seen  by  the ,  aid  of  the  moon 
together  with  a  row  of  somewhat  illegible  wntog  V black 
paint,  but  in  which  Elizabeth  to  whom  the  whole  was 
familiar,  read  with  facility,  "  The  Bold  Dragoon 

A  man  and  a  woman  were  issuing  from  the  door  of  this 
habiSSon  as  the  sleigh  was  passing.  The  ormer  moved 
with  a  stiff,  military  step,  that  was  a  good  ^  heightened 
bva  limp  in  one  leg;  but  the  woman  advanced  with  a 
measure  and  an  air  t£at  seemed  not  Jocularly  regard™ 
of  what  she  might  encounter.  The  light  of  the  moon  tell 
directly  upon  her  full,  broad  and  red  visage  e» ft itating  her 
masculine  countenance  under  the  mockery  of  «  cap 
that  was  intended  to  soften  the  lineaments  ^  features  that 
were  by  no  means  squeamish.  A  small  bonnet  oT  black 
silk,  and  of  a  slightly  formal  cut  was  placed  on  the  back 
of  her  head,  but  so  as  not  to  shade  her  vi^gem 
Her  face,  as  it  encountered  the  rays  of  the  moon  from  the 
east,  seemed  not  unlike  a  sun  rising  >V  sleieh- 
vanced,  with  masculine  strides,  to  intercept  the  sleigh, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


and  the  Judge,  directing  the  namesake  of  the  Grecian 
king,  who  held  the  lines,  to  check  his  horses,  the  parties 
were  soon  near  to  each  other. 

"  Good  luck  to  ye,  and  a  wilcome  home,  Jooge ! "  cried 
the  female,  with  a  strong  Irish  accent;  "and  I'm  sure  it's 
to  me  that  ye'r  always  wilcome.  Sure!  and  there's  Miss 
Lizzy,  and  a  fine  young  woman  is  she  grown.  What  a 
heart-ache  would  she  be  giving  the  young  men  now,  if  there 
was  sich  a  thing  as  a  rigiment  in  the  town!  Och!  but  it's 
idle  to  talk  of  sich  vanities,  while  the  bell  is  calling  us  to 
matemg,  jist  as  we  shall  be  called  away  unexpictedly, 
some  day,  when  we  are  the  laist  calkilating.  Good  even, 
Major:  will  I  make  the  bowl  of  gin  toddy  the  night  ?  or 
lt's^  likely  ye'll  stay  at  the  big  house  the  Christmas  Eve, 
and  the  very  night  of  ye'r  getting  there  ?" 
i  l1  a™8]?d  to  see  y°u>  Mrs-  Hollister,"  returned  Eliza- 
beth. I  have  been  trying  to  find  a  face  that  I  knew, 
since  we  left  the  door  of  the  Mansion-house;  -but  none 
have  I  seen  except  your  own.  Your  house,  too,  is  unal- 
tered; while  all  the  others  are  so  changed,  that,  but  for 
the  places  where  they  stand,  they  would  be  utter  strangers. 
1  observe  you  also  keep  the  dear  sign  that  I  saw  cousin 
Kicnard  paint;  and  even  the  name  at  the  bottom,  about 
which,  you  may  remember,  you  had  the  disagreement." 

'5  ?  t?e  B°uld  Drag°on  ye  mane  ?  And  what  name 
would  he  have,  who  niver  was  known  by  any  other,  as  my 
husband  here,  the  Captain,  can  testify.  He  was  a  pleasure  to 
wait  upon,  and  was  ever  the  foremost  in  need.  Och!  but 
he  had  a  sudden  end!  But  it's  to  be  hoped  that  he  was 
justified  by  the  cause.  And  it's  not  Parson  Grant  there 
who  11  gainsay  that  same.  Yes,  yes;  the  Squire  would 
paint,  and  so  I  thought  that  we  might  have  Ms  face  up 
there,  who  had  so  often  shared  good  and  evil  wid  us.  The 
eyes  is  not  so  large  nor  so  fiery  as  the  captain's  own;  but 
the  whiskers  and  the  cap  is  as  like  as  two  paes.  Well, 
well,  1 11  not  keep  ye  in  the  cowld,  talking,  but  will  drop 
m  the  morrow  after  sarvice,  and  ask  ye  how  ye  do.  It's 
our  bounden  duty  to  make  the  most  of  this  present,  and 
to  go  to  the  house  which  is  open  to  all;  so  God  bless  ye, 
and  keep  ye  from  evil!  Will  I  make  the  gin-twist  the 
night,  or  no,  Major?" 

•  T£  this  question  the  German  replied,  very  sententiously, 
m  the  affirmative;  and  after  a  few  words  had  passed  be- 
tween the  husband  of  this  fiery-faced  hostess  and  the 


io6 


THE  PIONEERS, 


Judge,  the  sleigh  moved  on.  It  soon  reached  the  door 
of  the  academy,  where  the  party  alighted  and  entered  the 
building. 

In  the  meantime,  Mr.  Jones  and  nis  two  companions, 
having  a  much  shorter  distance  to  journey,  had  arrived 
before  the  appointed  place  several  minutes  sooner  than  the 
party  in  the  sleigh.  Instead  of  hastening  into  the  room, 
in  order  to  enjoy  the  astonishment  of  the  settlers,  Richard 
placed  a  hand  in  either  pocket  of  his  surtout,  and  affected 
to  walk  about,  in  front  of  the  academy,  like  one  to  whom 
the  ceremonies  were  familiar. 

The  villagers  proceeded  uniformly  into  the  building, 
with  a  decorum  and  gravity  that  nothing  could  move,  on 
such  occasions;  but  with  a  haste  that  was  probably  a  little 
heightened  by  curiosity.  Those  who  came  in  from  the 
adjacent  country,  spent  some  little  time  in  placing  certain 
blue  and  white  blankets  over  their  horses  before  they  pro- 
ceeded to. indulge  their  desire  to  view  the  interior  of  the 
house.  Most  of  these  men  Eichard  approached,  and  in- 
quired after  the  health  and  condition  of  their  families. 
The  readiness  with  which  he  mentioned  the  names  of  even 
the  children,  showed  how  very  familiarly  acquainted  he 
was  with  their  circumstances ;  and  the  nature  of  the  an- 
swers he  received,  proved  that  he  was  a  general  favorite. 

At  length  one  of  the  pedestrians  from  the  village 
stopped  also,  and  fixed  an  earnest  gaze  at  a  new  brick 
edifice,  that  was  throwing  a  long  shadow  across  the  fields 
of  snow,  as  it  rose,  with  a  beautiful  gradation  of  light  and 
shade,  under  the  rays  of  a  full  moon.  In  front  of  the 
academy  was  a  vacant  piece  of  ground,  that  was  intended 
for  a  public  square.  On  the  side  opposite  to  Mr.  Jones, 
the  new  and  as  yet  unfinished  church  of  St.  Paul's  was 
erected.  This  edifice  had  been  reared  during  the  preced- 
ing summer,  by  the  aid  of  what  was  called  a  subscription  ; 
though  all,  or  nearly  all,  of  the  money  came  from  the 
pocket  of  the  landlord.  It  had  been  built  under  a  strong 
conviction  of  the  necessity  of  a  more  seemly  place  of  wor- 
ship than  the  "long  room  of  the  academy,"  and  under  an 
implied  agreement  that,  after  its  completion,  the  question 
should  be  fairly  put  to  the  people,  that  they  might  decide 
to  what  denomination  it  should  belong.  Of  course,  this 
expectation  kept  alive  a  strong  excitement  in  some  few  of 
the  sectaries  who  were  interested  in  its  decision;  though 
but  little  was  said  openly  on  the  subject.    Had  Judge 


THE  PIONEERS. 


107 


Temple  espoused  the  cause  of  any  particular  sect,  the 
question  would  have  been  immediately  put  at  rest,  for  his 
influence  was  too  powerful  to  be  opposed;  but  he  declined 
interference  in  the  matter,  positively  refusing  to  lend  even 
the  weight  of  his  name  on  the  side  of  Richard,  who  had 
secretly  given  an  assurance  to  his  diocesan/  that  both  the 
building  and  the  congregation  would   cheerfully  come 
within  the  pale  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  But 
when  the  neutrality  of  the  Judge  was  clearly  ascertained, 
Mr.  Jones  discovered  that  he  had  to  contend  with  a  stiff- 
necked  people.    His  first  measure  was  to  go  among  them, 
and  commence  a  course  of  reasoning,  in  order  to  bring 
them  round  to  his  own  way  of  thinking.    They  all  heard 
him  patiently,  and  not  a  man  uttered  a  word  in  reply,  in 
the  way  of  argument:  and  Eichard  thought,  by  the  time 
that  he  had  gone  through  the  settlement,  the  point  was 
conclusively  decided  in  his  favor.    Willing  to  strike  while 
the  iron  was  hot,  he  called  a  meeting,  through  the  news- 
paper, with  a  view  to  decide  the  question  by  a  vote,  at 
once.    Not  a  soul  attended;  and  one  of  the  most  anxious 
afternoons  that  he  had  ever  known  was  spent  by  Eichard 
in  a  vain  discussion  with  Mrs.  Hollister,  who  strongly 
contended  that  the  Methodist  (her  own)  Church  was  the 
best  entitled  to,  and  most  deserving  of,  the  possession  of 
the  new  tabernacle.    Eichard  now  perceived  that  he  had 
been  too  sanguine,  and  had  fallen  into  the  error  of  all  those 
who  ignorantly  deal  with  that  wary  and  sagacious  people. 
He  assumed  a  disguise  himself,  that  is,  as  well  as  he  knew, 
how,  and  proceeded  step  by  step  to  advance  his  purpose. 

The  task  of  erecting  the  building  had  been  unanimously 
transferred  to  Mr.  Jones  and  Hiram  Doolittle.  Together 
they  had  built  the  Mansion-house,  the  academy,  and  the 
jail;  and  they  alone  knew  how  to  plan  and  rear  such  a 
structure  as  was  now  required.  Early  in  the  day,  these 
architects  had  made  an  equitable  division  of  their  duties. 
To  the  former  was  assigned  the  duty  of  making  all  the 
plans,  and  to  the  latter,  the  labor  of  superintending  the 
execution. 

Availing  himself  of  this  advantage,  Eichard  silently  de- 
termined that  the  windows  should  have  the  Eoman  arch; 
the  first  positive  step-  in  effecting  his  wishes.  As  the 
building  was  made  of  bricks,  he  was  enabled  to  conceal  his 
design,  until  the  moment  arrived  for  placing  the  frames : 
then,  indeed,  it  became  necessary  to  act.    He  communi- 


io8 


THE  PIONEERS. 


cated  his  wishes  to  Hiram  with  great  caution ;  and,  with- 
out in  the  least  adverting  to  the  spiritual  part  of  his  pro- 
ject, he  pressed  the  point  a  little  warmly,  on  the  score  of 
architectural  beauty.  Hiram  heard  him  patiently,  and 
without  contradiction;  but  still  Eichard  was  unable  to 
discover  the  views  of  his  coadjutor  on  this  interesting 
subject.  As  the  right  to  plan  was  duly  delegated  to  Mr. 
Jones,  no  direct  objection  was  made  in  words,  but  num- 
berless unexpected  difficulties  arose  in  the  execution.  At 
first  there  was  a  scarcity  in  the  right  kind  of  material  nec- 
essary to  form  the  frames;  but  this  objection  was  instantly 
silenced,  by  Eichard  running  his  pencil  through  two  feet 
of  their  length  at  one  stroke.  Then  the  expense  was 
mentioned ;  but  Eichard  reminded  Hiram  that  his  cousin 
paid,  and  that  he  was  his  treasurer.  This  last  intimation 
nad  great  weight,  and  after  a  silent  and  protracted,  but 
fruitless  opposition,  the  work  was  suffered  to  proceed  on 
the  original  plan. 

The  next  difficulty  occurred  in  the  steeple,  which  Eich- 
ard had  modeled  after  one  of  the  smaller  of  those  spires 
that  adorn  the  great  London  Cathedral.  The  imitation  was 
somewhat  lame,  it  is  true,  the  proportions  being  but  indif- 
ferently observed;  but,  after  much  difficulty,  Mr.  Jones 
had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  an  object  reared  that  bore, 
in  its  outlines,  a  striking  resemblance  to  a  vinegar-cruet. 
There  was  less  opposition  to  this  model  than  to  the  win- 
dows; for  the  settlers  were  fond  of  novelty,  and  their 
steeple  was  without  a  precedent. 

Here  the  labor  ceased  for  the  season,  and  the  difficult 
question  of  the  interior  remained  for  further  deliberation. 
Eichard  well  knew,  that  when  he  came  to  propose  a  read- 
ing desk  and  a  chancel,  he  must  unmask ;  for  these  were 
arrangements  known  to  no  Church  in  the  country  but  his 
own.  Presuming,  however,  on  the  advantages  he  had 
already  obtained,  he  boldly  styled  the  building  St.  Paul's, 
and  Hiram  prudently  acquiesced  in  this  appellation,  mak- 
ing, however,  the  slight  addition  of  calling  it  "  New  St. 
Paul's,"  feeling  less  aversion  to  a  name  taken  from  the 
English  Cathedral  than  from  the  saint. 

The  pedestrian  whom  we  have  already  mentioned,  as 
pausing  to  contemplate  this  edifice,  was  no  other  than  the 
gentleman  so  frequently  named  as  Mr.,  or  Squire,  Doo- 
little.  He  was  of  a  tall,  gaunt  formation,  with  rather 
sharp  features,  and  a  face  that  expressed  formal  propriety, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


109 


mingled  with  low  cunning.  Richard  approached  him, 
followed  by  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  and  the  major-domo. 

"  Good  evening,  Squire,"  said  Eichard,  bobbing  his  head, 
but  without  moving  his  hands  from  his  pockets. 

"Good  evening,  Squire,"  echoed  Hiram,  turning  his 
body  in  order  to  turn  his  head  also. 

"A  cold  night,  Mr.  Doolittle,  a  cold  night,  sir." 

"  Ooolish ;  a  tedious  spell  on't." 

"What,  looking  at  our  church,  ha!  it  looks  well,  by 
moonlight ;  how  the  tin  of  the  cupola  glistens !  I  warrant 
you  the  dome  of  the  other  St.  PauFs  never  shines  so  in  the 
smoke  of  London." 

"It  is  a  pretty  meeting-house  to  look  on,"  returned 
Hiram,  "and  I  believe  that  Monshure  Ler  Quow  and  Mr. 
Penguilliam,  will  allow  it." 

"  Sairtainlee ! "  exclaimed  the  complaisant  Frenchman, 
"  it  ees  ver  fine." 

"  I  thought  the  Monshure  would  say  so.  The  last  mo- 
lasses that  we  had  was  excellent  good.  It  isn't  likely  that 
you  have  any  more  of  it  on  hand  ?  " 

"Ah !  oui ;  ees  sair,"  returned  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  with  a 
slight  shrug  of  his  shoulder  and  a  trifling  grimace,  "  dere 
is  more.  I  feel  ver  happi  dat  you  love  eet.  I  hope  dat 
Madame  Doleet'  is  in  good  'ealth." 

"  Why,  so  as  to  be  stirring,"  said  Hiram.  "  The  Squire 
hasn't  finished  the  plans  for  the  inside  of  the  meeting- 
house yet  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  no,"  returned  Richard,  speaking  quickly,  but 
making  a  significant  pause  between  each  negative,  "  it  re- 
quires reflection.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  room  to  fill  up, 
and  I  am  afraid  we  shall  not  know  how  to  dispose  of  it  to 
advantage.  There  will  be  a  large  vacant  spot  around  the 
pulpit,  which  I  do  not  mean  to  place  against  the  wall,  like 
a  sentry-box  stuck  up  on  the  side  of  a  fort." 

"  It  is  rulable  to  put  the  deacon's  box  under  the  pulpit," 
said  Hiram ;  and  then,  as  if  he  had  ventured  too  much,  he 
added,  "  but  there's  different  fashions  in  different  coun- 
tries." 

"That  there  is,"  cried  Benjamin;  "now,  in  running 
down  the,  coast  of  Spain  and  Portingall,  you  may  see  a 
nunnery  stuck  out  on  every  headland,  with  more  steeples 
and  outriggers,  such  as  dog-vanes  and  weather-cocks,  than 
you'll  find  aboard  of  a  three-masted  schooner.  If-so-be 
that  a  well-built  church  is  wanting,  Old  England,  after  all, 


I  10 


THE  PIONEERS. 


is  the  country  to  go  to  after  your  models  and  fashion 
pieces.  As  to  Paul's,  tho'f  I've  never  seen  it,  being  that 
it's  a  long  way  up  town  from  Radcliffe-highway  and  the 
docks,  yet  everybody  knows  that  it's  the  grandest  place  in 
the  world.  Now,  I've  no  opinion  but  this  here  church 
over  there,  is  as  like  one  end  of  it,  as  a  grampus  is  to  a 
whale;  and  that's  only  a  small  difference  in  bulk.  Moun- 
sheer Ler  Quaw,  here,  has  been  in  foreign  parts ;  and  tho'f 
that  is  not  the  same  as  having  been  at  home,  yet  he  must 
have  seen  churches  in  France  too,  and  can  form  a  small 
idee  of  what  a  church  should  be ;  now,  I  ask  the  Mounsheer 
to  his  face,  if  it  is  not  a  clever  little  thing,  taking  it  by 
and  large  ?  " 

"  It  ees  ver  apropos  of  saircumstance,"  said  the  French- 
man, "ver  judgment;-  but  it  is  in  de  Catholique  country 
dat  dey  build  de — vat  you  call  — ah  a  ah-ha — la  grande 
cathedrale — de  big  church.  .  St.  Paul,  Londre,  is  ver  fine ; 
ver  belle;  ver  grand— vat  you  call  beeg;  but,  Monsieur 
Ben,  pardonnez  moi,  it  is  no  vort  so  much  as  Notre 
Dame." 

/  Ha !  Mounsheer,  what  is  that  you  say  ?  "  cried  Benja- 
min, "  St.  Paul's  church  not  worth  so  much  as  a  damn ! 
Mayhap  you  maybe  thinking  too  that  the  Royal  Billy 
isn't  so  good  a  ship  as  the  Billy  de  Paris ;  but  she  would 
have  licked  two  of  her,  any  day,  and  in  all  weathers." 

As  Benjamin  had  assumed  a  very  threatening  kind  of 
attitude,  flourishing  an  arm,  with  a  bunch  at  the  end  of  it 
that  was  half  as  big  as  Monsieur  Le  Quoi's  head,  Richard 
thought  it  time  to  interpose  his  authority. 

"Hush,  Benjamin,  hush,"  he  said;  "}tou  both  misun- 
derstand Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  and  forget  yourself.  But 
here  comes  Mr.  Grant,  and  the  service  will  commence. 
Let  us  go  in." 

The  Frenchman,  who  received  Benjamin's  reply  with  a 
well-bred  good  humor,  that  would  not  admit  of  any  feel- 
ing but  pity  for  the  other  s  ignorance,  bowed  in  acquies- 
cence, and  followed  his  companion. 

Hiram  and  the  major-domo  brought  up  the  rear,  the 
latter  grumbling,  as  he  entered  the  building, — 

"  If-so-be  that  the  King  of  France  had  so  much  as  a 
house  to  live  in,  that  would  lay  alongside  of  Paul's,  one 
might  put  up  with  their  jaw.  It's  more  than  flesh  and 
blood  can  bear  to  hear  a  Frenchman  run  down  an  English 
church  in  this  manner.    AVhy,  Squire  Doolittle,  I've  been 


THE  PIONEERS. 


at  the  whipping  of  two  of  them  in  one  day — clean-built, 
snug  frigates  with  standing-royals,  and  them  new-fashioned 
cannonades  on  their  quarters — such  as,  if  they  had  only 
Englishmen  aboard  of  them,  would  have  fou't  the  devil." 

With  this  ominous  word  in  his  mouth,  Benjamin  entered 
the  church. 


CHAPTER  XL 

And  fools  who  came  to  scoff,  remained  to  pray.  Goldsmith. 

Notwithstanding  the  united  labors  of  Richard  and 
Benjamin,  the  "  long  room  "  was  but  an  extremely  inarti- 
ficial temple.  Benches,  made  in  the  coarsest  manner,  and 
entirely  with  a  view  to  usefulness,  were  arranged  in  rows, 
for  the  reception  of  the  congregation ;  while  a  rough,  un- 
painted  box  was  placed  against  the  wall,  in  the  centre  of 
the  length  of  the  apartment,  as  an  apology  for  a  pulpit. 
Something  like  a  reading-desk  was  in  front  of  his  rostrum; 
and  a  small  mahogany  table,  from  the  Mansion-house, 
covered  with  a  spotless  damask  cloth,  stood  a  little  on  one 
side,  by  the  way  of  an  altar.  Branches  of  pines  and  hem- 
locks were  stuck  in  each  of  the  fissures  that  offered,  in  the 
unseasoned  and  hastily-completed  wood-work,  of  both  the 
building  and  its  furniture;  while  festoons  and  hierogly- 
phics met  the  eye  in  vast  profusion  along  the  brown  sides 
of  the  scratch-coated  walls.  As  the  room  was  only  lighted 
by  some  ten  or  fifteen  miserable  candles,  and  the  windows 
were  without  shutters,  it  would  have  been  but  a  dreary, 
cheerless  place  for  the  solemnities  of  a  Christmas  Eve,  had 
not  the  large  fire  that  was  crackling  at  each  end  of  the 
apartment  given  an  air  of  cheerfulness  to  the  scene,  by 
throwing  an  occasional  glare  of  light  through  the  vistas 
of  bushes  and  faces.  • 

The  two  sexes  were  separated  by  an  area  in  the  centre 
of  the  room  immediately  before  the  pulpit;  and  a  few 
benches  line<J  this  space,  that  were  occupied  by  the  princi- 
pal personages  of  the  village  and  its  vicinity.  This  dis- 
tinction was  rather  a  gratuitous  concession,  made  by  the 
poorer  and  less  polished  part  of  the  population,  than  a 
right  claimed  by  the  favored  few.  One  bench  was  occu- 
pied by  the  party  of  Judge  Temple,  including  his  daugh- 


112 


THE  PIONEERS. 


ter;  and,  with  the  exception  of  Dr.  Todd,  no  one  else 
appeared  willing  to  incur  the  imputation  of  pride,  by 
taking  a  seat  in  what  was,  literally,  the  high  place  of  the 
tabernacle. 

Richard  filled  the  chair  that  was  placed  behind  another 
table,  in  the  capacity  of  clerk ;  while  Benjamin,  after  heap- 
ing sundry  logs  on  the  fire,  posted  himself  nigh  by,  m 
reserve  for  any  movement  that  might  require  coopera- 
tion. 

It  would  greatly  exceed  our  limits  to  attempt  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  congregation;  for  the  dresses  were  as  various 
as  the  individuals.  Some  one  article,  of  more  than  usual 
finery,  and  perhaps  the  relic  of  other  days,  was  to  be  seen 
about  most  of  the  females,  in  connection  with  the  coarse 
attire  of  the  woods.  This  wore  a  faded  silk,  that  had  gone 
through  at  least  three  generations,  over  coarse,  woollen 
black  stockings ;  that,  a  shawl,  whose  dyes  were  as  numer- 
ous as  those  of  the  rainbow,  over  an  awkwardly  fitting 
gown,  of  rough  brown  "woman's  wear."  In  short,  each 
one  exhibited  some  favorite  article,  and  all  appeared  in 
their  best,  both  men  and  women;  while  the  groundworks 
in  dress,  in  either  sex,  were  the  coarse  fabrics  manufac- 
tured within  their  own  dwellings.  One  man  appeared  in 
the  dress  of  a  volunteer  company  of  artillery,  of  which  he 
had  been  a  member  in  the  "down  countries,"  precisely  for 
no  other  reason  than  because  it  was  the  best  suit  he  had. 
Several,  particularly  of  the  younger  men,  displayed  panta- 
loons of  blue,  edged  with  red  cloth  down  the  seams, 
part  of  the  equipments  of  the  "  Templeton  Light  Infan- 
try," from  a  little  vanity  to  be  seen  in  "  bough  ten  clothes." 
There  was  also  one  man  in  a  "  rifle  frock,"  with  its  fringes 
and  folds  of  spotless  white,  striking  a  chill  to  the  heart 
with  the  idea  of  its  coolness;  although  the  thick  coat  of 
brown  "home-made,"  that  was  concealed  beneath,  pre- 
served a  proper  degree  of  warmth. 

There  was  a  marked  uniformity  of  expression  in  counte- 
nance, especially  in  that  half  of  the  congregation  who  did 
not  enjoy  the  advantages  of  the  polish  of  the  village.  A 
sallow  skin,  that  indicated  nothing  but  exposure,  was 
common  to  all,  as  was  an  air  of  great  decency  and  attention, 
mingled,  generally,  with  an  expression  of  shrewdness,  and, 
in  the  present  instance,  of  active  curiosity.  Now  and  then 
a  face  and  dress  were  to  be  seen  among  the  congregation, 
that  differed  entirely  from  this  description.    If  pock- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


marked  and  florid,  with  gaitered  legs,  and  a  coat  that 
snugly  fitted  the  person  of  the  wearer,  it  was  surely  an 
English  emigrant,  who  had  bent  his  steps  to  this  retired 
quarter  of  the  globe.  If  hard-featured,  and  without  color, 
with  high  cheek  bones,  it  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  in  sim- 
ilar circumstances. 

The  short,  black-eyed  man,  with  a  cast  of  the  swarthy 
Spaniard  in  his  face,  who  rose  repeatedly,  to  make  room 
for  the  belles  of  the  village  as  they  entered,  was  a  son  of 
Erin,  who  had  lately  left  off  his  pack,  and  become  a 
stationary  trader  in  Templeton.  In  short,  half  the 
nations  in  the  north  of  Europe  had  their  representatives 
in  this  assembly,  though  all  had  closely  assimilated  them- 
selves to  the  Americans  in  dress  and  appearance,  except 
the  Englishman.  He,  indeed,  not  only  adhered  to  his 
native  customs  in  attire  and  living,  but  usually  drove  his 
plough,  among  the  stumps,  in  the  same  manner  as  he  had 
before  done  on  the  plains  of  Norfolk,  until  dear-bought 
experience  taught  him  the  useful  lesson,  that  a  sagacious 
people  knew  what  was  suited  to  their  circumstances  better 
than  a  casual  observer ;  or  a  sojourner,  who  was,  perhaps, 
too  much  prejudiced  to  compare,  and,  peradventure,  too 
conceited  to  learn. 

Elizabeth  soon  discovered  that  she  divided  the  attention 
of  the  congregation  with  Mr.  Grant.  Timidity,  therefore, 
confined  her  observation  of  the  appearances  which  we  have 
described  to  stolen  glances;  but,  as  the  stamping  of  feet 
was  now  becoming  less  frequent,  and  even  the  coughing, 
and  other  little  preliminaries  of  a  congregation  settling 
themselves  down  into  reverential  attention,  were  ceasing, 
she  felt  emboldened  to  look  around  her.  Gradually  all 
noises  diminished,  until  the  suppressed  cough  denoted  that 
it  was  necessary  to  avoid  singularity,  and  the  most  pro- 
found stillness  pervaded  the  apartment.  The  snapping  of 
the  fires,  as  they  threw  a  powerful  heat  into  the  room,  was 
alone  heard,  and  each  face,  and  every  eye,  were  turned  on 
the  divine. 

At  this  moment,  a  heavy  stamping  of  feet  was  heard  in 
the  passage  below,  as  if  a  new  comer  was  releasing  his 
limbs  from  the  snow  that  was  necessarily  clinging  to  the 
legs  of  a  pedestrian.  It  was  succeeded  by  no  audible 
tread;  but  directly  Mohegan,  followed  by  the  Leather- 
Stocking  and  the  young  hunter,  made  his  appearance. 
Their  foot-steps  would  not  have  been  heard,  as  they  trod 


114 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  apartment  in  their  moccasins,  but  for  the  silence 
which  prevailed. 

The  Indian  moved  with  great  gravity  across  the  floor, 
and,  observing  a  vacant  seat  next  to  the  Judge,  he  took  it, 
in  a  manner  that  manifested  his  sense  of  his  own  dignity. 
Here,  drawing  his  blanket  closely  around  him,  so  as  partly 
to  conceal  his  countenance,  he  remained,  during  the  service, 
immovable,  but  deeply  attentive.  Natty  passed  the  place 
that  was  so  freely  taken  by  his  red  companion,  and  seated 
himself  on  one  end  of  a  log  that  was  lying  near  the  fire, 
where  he  continued,  with  his  rifle  standing  between  his 
legs,  absorbed  in  reflections,  seemingly  of  no  very  pleasing 
nature.  The  youth  found  a  seat  among  the  congregation, 
and  another  silence  prevailed. 

Mr.  Grant  now  arose,  and  commenced  his  service  with 
the  sublime  declaration  of  the  Hebrew  prophet:  "The 
Lord  is  in  his  holy  temple;  let  all  the  earth  keep  silence 
before  Him."  The  example  of  Mr.  Jones  was  unnecessary 
to  teach  the  congregation  to  rise;  the  solemnity  of  the 
divine  effected  this  as  by  magic.  After  a  short  pause,  Mr. 
Grant  proceeded  with  the  solemn  and  winning  exhortation 
of  his  service.  Nothing  was  heard  but  the  deep,  though 
affectionate,  tones  of  the  reader,  as  he  slowly  went  through 
this  exordium;  until,  something  unfortunately  striking 
the  mind  of  Richard  as  incomplete,  he  left  his  place,  and 
walked  on  tip-toe  from  the  room. 

When  the  clergyman  bent  his  knees  in  prayer  and  con- 
fession, the  congregation  so  far  imitated  his  example  as  to 
resume  their  seats;  whence  no  succeeding  effort  of  the 
divine,  during  the  evening,  was  able  to  remove  them  in  a 
body.  Some  rose  at  times;  but  by  far  the  larger  part 
continued  unbending;  observant,  it  is  true,  but  it  was  the 
kind  of  observation  that  regarded  the  ceremony  as  a  specta- 
cle rather  than  a  worship  in  which  they  were  to  partici- 
pate. Thus  deserted  by  his  clerk,  Mr.  Grant  continued  to 
read;  but  no  response  was  audible.  The  short  and  solemn 
pause  that  succeeded  each  petition  was  made;  still  no 
voice  repeated  the  eloquent  language  of  the  prayer. 

The  lips  of  Elizabeth  moved,  but  they  moved  in  vain; 
and,  accustomed  as  she  was  to  the  service  in  the  churches 
of  the  metropolis,  she  was  beginning  to  feel  the  awkward- 
ness of  the  circumstance  most  painfully,  when  a  soft,  low, 
female  voice  repeated  after  the  priest,  "  AVe  have  left  un- 
done those  things  which  we  ought  to  have  done."  Startled 


THE  PIONEERS. 


at  finding  one  of  her  own  sex  in  that  place,  who  could  rise 
superior  to  natural  timidity,  Miss  Temple  turned  her  eyes 
in  the  direction  of  the  penitent.  She  observed  a  young 
female  on  her  knees,  but  a  short  distance  from  her,  with 
her  meek  face  humbly  bent  over  her  book. 

The  appearance  of  this  stranger,  for  such  she  was,  entirely, 
to  Elizabeth,  was  light  and  fragile.  Her  dress  was  neat 
and  becoming;  and  her  countenance,  though  pale  and 
slightly  agitated,  excited  deep  interest  by  its  sweet  and 
melancholy  expression.  A  second  and  third  response  were 
made  by  this  juvenile  assistant,  when  the  manly  sounds  of  a 
male  voice  proceeded  from  the  opposite  part  of  the  room. 
Miss  Temple  knew  the  tones  of  the  young  hunter  instantly, 
and  struggling  to  overcome  her  own  diffidence,  she  added 
her  low  voice  to  the  number. 

All  this  time  Benjamin  stood  thumbing  the  leaves  of  a 
prayer-book  with  great  industry;  but  some  unexpected 
difficulties  prevented  his  finding  the  place.  Before  the 
divine  reached  the  close  of  the  confession,  however,  Rich- 
ard reappeared  at  the  door,  and,  as  he  moved  lightly  across 
the  room,  he  took  up  the  response,  in  a  voice  that  betrayed 
no  other  concern  than  that  of  not  being  heard.  In  his 
hand  he  carried  a  small  open  box,  with  the  figures  "  8  by 
10"  written  in  black  paint  on  one  of  its  sides;  which, 
having  placed  in  the  pulpit,  apparently  as  a  footstool  for 
the  divine,  he  returned  to  his  station  in  time  to  say,  sonor- 
ously, "Amen."  The  eyes  of  the  congregation,  very  natur- 
ally were  turned  to  the  windows,  as  Mr.  Jones  entered  with 
this  singular  load;  and  then,  as  if  accustomed  to  his 
"  general  agency,"  were  again  bent  on  the  priest,  in  close 
and  curious  attention. 

The  long  experience  of  Mr.  Grant  admirably  qualified 
him  to  perform  his  present  duty.  He  well  understood  the 
character  of  his  listeners,  who  were  mostly  a  primitive 
people  in  their  habits;  and  who,  being  a  good  deal  ad- 
dicted to  subtleties  and  nice  distinctions  in  their  religious 
opinions,  viewed  the  introduction  of  any  such  temporal  as- 
sistance as  form,  into  their  spiritual  worship,  not  only  with 
jealousy,  but  frequently  with  disgust.  He  had  acquired 
much  of  his  knowledge  from  studying  the  great  book  of 
human  nature,  as  it  lay  open  in  the  world ;  and,  knowing 
how  dangerous  it  was  to  contend  with  ignorance,  uni- 
formly endeavored  to  avoid  dictating  where  his  better 
reason  taught  him  it  was  the  most  prudent  to  attempt  to 


n6 


THE  PIONEERS. 


lead.  His  orthodoxy  had  no  dependence  on  his  cassock ; 
he  could  pray  with  fervor  and  with  faith,  if  circumstances 
required  it,  without  the  assistance  of  his  clerk;  and  he 
had  even  been  known  to  preach  a  most  evangelical  sermon, 
in  the  winning  manner  of  native  eloquence,  without  the 
aid  of  a  cambric  handkerchief. 

In  the  present  instance  he  yielded,  in  many  places,  to 
the  prejudices  of  his  congregation;  and  when  he  had 
ended,  there  was  not  one  of  his  new  hearers  who  did  not 
think  the  ceremonies  less  papal  and  offensive,  and  more 
conformant  to  his  or  her  own  notions  of  devout  worship, 
than  they  had  been  led  to  expect  from  a  service  of  forms. 
Eichard  found  in  the  divine,  during  the  evening,  a  most 
powerful  cooperator  in  his  religious  schemes.  In  preach- 
ing, Mr.  Grant  endeavored  to  steer  a  middle  course  be- 
tween the  mystical  doctrines  of  those  sublimated  creeds 
which  daily  involve  their  professors  in  the  most  absurd 
contradictions,  and  those  fluent  rules  of  moral  govern- 
ment, which  would  reduce  the  Saviour  to  a  level  with  the 
teacher  of  a  school  of  ethics.  Doctrine  it  was  necessary  to 
preach,  for  nothing  less  would  have  satisfied  the  disputa- 
tious people  who  were  his  listeners,  and  who  would  have 
interpreted  silence  on  his  part,  into  a  tacit  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  superficial  nature  of  his  creed.  We  have 
already  said  that,  among  the  endless  variety  of  religious 
instructors,  the  settlers  were  accustomed  to  hear  every 
denomination  urge  its  own  distinctive  precepts;  and  to 
have  found  one  indifferent  to  this  interesting  subject, 
would  have  been  destructive  to  his  influence.  But  Mr. 
Grant  so  happily  blended  the  universally  received  opinions 
of  the  Christian  faith  with  the  dogmas  of  his  own  church, 
that,  although  none  were  entirely  exempt  from  the  influ- 
ence of  his  reasons,  very  few  took  any  alarm  at  the  innova- 
tion. 

"When  we  consider  the  great  diversity  of  the  human 
character,  influenced  as  it  is  by  education,  by  opportunity, 
and  by  the  physical  and  moral  conditions  of  the  creature, 
my  dear  hearers,"  he  earnestly  concluded,  "  it  can  excite 
no  surprise,  that  creeds  so  very  different  in  their  tenden- 
cies should  grow  out  of  a  religion,  revealed,  it  is  true,  but 
whose  revelations  are  obscured  by  the  lapse  of  ages,  and 
whose  doctrines  were,  after  the  fashion  of  the  countries 
in  which  they  were  first  promulgated,  frequently  delivered 
in  parables,  and  in  a  language  abounding  in  metaphors 


THE  PIONEERS. 


rtl? 


and  loaded  with  figures.  On  points  where  the  learned 
have,  in  purity  of  heart,  been  compelled  to  differ,  the  un- 
lettered will  necessarily  be  at  variance.  But,  happily  for 
us,  my  brethren,  the  fountain  of  divine  love  flows  from  a 
source  too  pure  to  admit  of  pollution  in  its  course;  it 
extends,  to  those  who  drink  of  its  vivifying  waters,  the 
peace  of  the  righteous,  and  life  everlasting;  it  endures 
through  all  time,  and  it  pervades  creation.  If  there  be 
mystery  in  its  workings,  it  is  the  mystery  of  a  Divinity. 
With  a  clear  knowledge  of  the  nature,  the  might,  and 
majesty  of  God,  there  might  be  conviction,  but  there 
could  be  no  faith.  If  we  are  required  to  believe  in  doc- 
trines that  seem  not  in  conformity  with  the  deductions  of 
human  wisdom,  let  us  never  forget,  that  such  is  the 
mandate  of  a  wisdom  that  is  infinite.  It  is  sufficient  for 
us  that  enough  is  developed  to  point  our  path  aright,  and 
to  direct  our  wandering  steps  to  that  portal  which  shall 
open  on  the  light  of  an  eternal  day.  Then,  indeed,  it  may 
be  humbly  hoped  that  the  film  which  has  been  spread  by 
the  subtleties  of  earthly  arguments,  will  be  dissipated  by 
the  spiritual  light  of  heaven;  and  that  our  hour  of  proba- 
tion, by  the  aid  of  divine  grace,  being  once  passed  in 
triumph,  will  be  followed  by  an  eternity  of  intelligence, 
and  endless  ages  of  fruition.  All  that  is  now  obscure  shall 
become  plain  to  our  expanded  faculties ;  and  what  to  our 
present  senses  may  seem  irreconcilable  to  our  limited 
notions  of  mercy,  of  jus'tice,  and  of  love,  shall  stand,  irra- 
diated by  the  light  of  truth,  confessedly  the  suggestions  of 
Omniscience,  and  the  acts  of  an  All-powerful  Benevolence. 

"  What  a  lesson  of  humility,  my  brethren,  might  not 
each  of  us  obtain  from  a  review  of  his  infant  hours,  and 
the  recollection  of  his  juvenile  passions !  How  differently 
do  the  same  acts  of  parental  rigor  appear,  in  the  eyes  of 
the  suffering  child,  and  of  the  chastened  man !  When  the 
sophist  would  supplant,  with  the  wild  theories  of  his 
worldly  wisdom,  the  positive  mandates  of  inspiration,  let 
him  remember  the  expansion  of  his  own  feeble  intellects, 
and  pause — let  him  feel  the  wisdom  of  God  in  what  is  par- 
tially concealed,  as  well  as  in  that  which  is  revealed ;  in 
short,  let  him  substitute  humility  for  pride  of  reason — let 
him  have  faith,  and  live ! 

"  The  consideration  of  this  subject  is  full  of  consolation, 
my  hearers,  and  does  not  fail  to  bring  with  it  lessons  of 
humility  and  of  profit,  that,  duly  improved,  would  both 


nS 


THE  PIONEERS. 


chasten  the  heart  and  strengthen  the  feeble-minded  man 
in  his  course.  It  is  a  blessed  consolation  to.  be  able  to 
lay  the  misdoubtings  of  our  arrogant  nature  at  the  thres- 
hold of  the  dwelling-place  of  the  Deity,  from  whence  they 
shall  be  swept  away,  at  the  great  opening  of  the  portal, 
like  the  mists  of  the  morning  before  the  rising  sun.  It 
teaches  us  a  lesson  of  humility,  by  impressing  us  with  the 
imperfection  of  human  powers,  and  by  warning  us  of  the 
many  weak  points  where  we  are  open  to  the  attacks  of  the 
great  enemy  of  our  race;  it  proves  to  us  that  we  are  in 
danger  of  being  weak,  when  our  vanity  would  fain  soothe 
us  into  the  belief  that  we  are  most  strong;  it  forcibly 
points  out  to  us  the  vain-glory  of  intellect,  and  shows  us 
the  vast  difference  between  a  saving  faith  and  the  corol- 
laries of  a  philosophical  theology;  and  it  teaches  us  to  re- 
duce our  self-examination  to  the  test  of  good  works.  By 
good  works  must  be  understood  the  fruits  of  repentance, 
the  chiefest  of  which  is  charity.  Not  that  charity  only, 
which  causes  us  to  help  the  needy  and  comfort  the  suffer- 
ing, but  that  feeling  of  universal  philanthropy,  which,  by 
teaching  us  to  love,  causes  us  to  judge  with  lenity,  all  men; 
striking  at  the  root  of  self-righteousness,  and  warning  us 
to  be  sparing  of  our  condemnation  of  others,  while  our 
own  salvation -is  not  yet  secure. 

"  The  lesson  of  expediency,  my  brethren,  which  I  would 
gather  from  the  consideration  of.  this  subject,  is  most 
strongly  inculcated  by  humility.  '  On  the  'leading  and 
essential  points  of  our  faith,  there  is  but  little  difference, 
among  those  classes  of  Christians  who  acknowledge  the 
attributes  of  the  Saviour,  and  depend  on  his  mediation. 
But  heresies  have  polluted  every  Church,  and  schisms  are 
the  fruits  of  disputation.  In  order  to  arrest  these  dangers, 
and  to  insure  the  union  of  his  followers,  it  would  seem 
that  Christ  had  established  his  visible  Church,  and  dele- 
gated the  ministry.  AVise  and  holy  men,  the  fathers  of 
our  religion,  have  expended  their  labors  in  clearing  what 
was  revealed  from  the  obscurities  of  language,  and  the 
results  of  their  experience  and  researches  have  been  em- 
bodied in  the  form  of  evangelical  discipline.  That  this 
discipline  must  be  salutary,"is  evident  from  the  view  of 
the  weakness  of  human  nature  that  we  have  already  taken ; 
and  that  it  may  bo  profitable  to  us,  and  all  who  listen  to 
its  precepts  and  its  liturgy,  may  God,  in  his  infinite  wis- 
dom, grant.    And  now  to,"  etc. 


THE  PIONEERS, 


With  this  ingenious  reference  to  his  own  forms  and 
ministry,  Mr.  Grant  concluded  the  discourse.  The  most 
profound  attention  had  been  paid  to  the  sermon  during 
the  whole  of  its  delivery,  although  the  prayers  had  not 
been  received  with  so  perfect  a  demonstration  of  respect. 
This  was  by  no  means  an  intended  slight  of  that  liturgy 
to  which  the  divine  alluded,  but  was  the  habit  of  a  people, 
who  owed  their  very  existence,  as  a  distinct  nation,  to  the 
doctrinal  character  of  their  ancestors.  Sundry  looks  of 
private  dissatisfaction  were  exchanged  between  Hiram  and 
one  or  two  of  the  leading  members  of  the  conference,  but 
the  feeling  went  no  further  at  that  time;  and  the  congre- 
gation, after  receiving  the  blessing  of  Mr.  Grant,  dispersed 
in  silence,  and  with  great  decorum. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Your  creeds  and  dogmas  of  a  learned  church 

May  build  a  fabric,  fair  with  moral  beauty; 

But  it  would  seem,  that  the  strong  hand  of  God 

Can,  only,  'rase  the  devil  from  the  heart.  Duo. 

• 

While  the  congregation  was  separating,  Mr.  Grant  ap- . 
proached  the  place  where  Elizabeth  and  her  father  were 
seated,  leading  the  youthful  female  whom  we  have  men- 
tioned m  the  preceding  chapter,  and  presented  her  as  his 
daughter.  Her  reception  was  as  cordial  and  frank  as  the 
manners  of  the  country,  and  the  value  of  good  society, 
could  render  it;  the  two  young  women  feeling,  instantly, 
that  they  were  necessary  to  the  comfort  of  each  other. 
Ihe  Judge,  to  whom  the  clergyman's  daughter  was  also  a 
stranger,  was  pleased  to  find  one  who,  from  habits,  sex, 
and  years,  could  probably  contribute  largely  to  the  pleasures 
oi  his  own  child,  during  her  first  privations,  on  her  removal 
Irom  the  associations  of  a  city  to  the  solitude  of  Templeton; 
while  Elizabeth,  who  had  been  forcibly  struck  with  the 
sweetness  and  devotion  of  the  youthful  suppliant,  removed 
the  slight  embarrassment  of  the  timid  stranger,  by  the  ease 
of  her  own  manners.  They  were  at  once  acquainted;  and, 
during  the  ten  minutes  that  the  "academy"  was  clearing 
engagements  were  made  between  the  young  people,  not 
OiAj  for  the  succeeding  day,  but  they  would  probably  have 


120 


THE  PIONEERS. 


embraced  in  their  arrangements  half  of  the  winter,  had 
not  the  divine  interrupted  them  by  saying  :— 

"  Gently,  gently,  my  dear  Miss  Temple,  or  you  will  make 
my  girl  too  dissipated.  You  forget  that  she  is  my  house- 
keeper, and  that  my  domestic  affairs  must  remain  unat- 
tended to,  should  Louisa  accept  of  half  the  kind  offers  you 
are  so  good  as  to  make  her." 

"And  why  should  they  not  be  neglected  entirely,  sir  ? 99 
interrupted  Elizabeth.  "There  are  but  two  of  you;  and 
certain  I  am  that  my  father's  house  will  not  only  contain 
you  both,  but  will  open  its  doors  spontaneously,  to  receive 
such  guests.  Society  is  a  good  not  to  be  rejected,  on  ac- 
count of  cold  forms,  in  this  wilderness,  sir;  and  I  have 
often  heard  my  father  say,  that  hospitality  is  not  a  virtue 
in  a  new  country,  the  favor  being  conferred  by  the  guest." 

"  The  manner  in  which  Judge  Temple  exercises  its  rites 
would  confirm  this  opinion;  but  we  must  not  trespass  too 
freely.  Doubt  not  that  you  will  see  us  often,  my  child 
particularly,  during  the  frequent  visits  that  I  shall  be  com- 
pelled to  make  to  the  distant  parts  of  the  country.  But 
to  obtain  an  influence  with  such  a  people/'  he  continued, 
glancing  his  eyes  towards  the  few  who  were  still  lingering, 
curious  observers  of  the  interview,  "a  clergyman  must  not 
awaken  envy  or  distrust,  by  dwelling  under  so  splendid  a 
roof  as  that  of  Judge  Temple." 

« You  like  the  roof,  then,  Mr.  Grant,"  cried  Richara, 
who  had  been  directing  the  extinguishment  of  the  fires, 
and  other  little  necessary  duties,  and  who  approached  in 
time  to  hear  the  close  of  the  divine's  speech;  "I  am  glad 
to  find  one  man  of  taste  at  last.  Here's  'Duke,  now,  pre- 
tends to  call  it  by  every  abusive  name  he  can  invent ;  but 
though  'Duke  is  a  very  tolerable  judge,  he  is  a  very  poor 
carpenter,  let  me  tell  him.  Well,  sir,  well,  I  think  we  may 
say,  without  boasting,  that  the  service  was  as  well  per- 
formed this  evening  as  you  often  see ;  I  think,  quite  as  well 
as  I  ever  knew  it  to  be  done  in  old  Trinity, — that  is,  if  we 
except  the  organ.  But  there  is  the  schoolmaster  leads  the 
psalm  with  a  very  good  air.  I  used  to  lead  myself,  but 
latterly  I  have  sung  nothing  but  bass.  There  is  a  good 
deal  of  science  to  be  shown  in  the  bass,  and  it  affords  a  fine 
opportunity  to  show  off  a  full,  deep  voice.  Benjamin,  too, 
sings  a  good  bass,  though  he  is  often  out  in  the  words. 
Did  you  ever  hear  Benjamin  sing  the  1  Bay  of  Biscay,  0 '  ?  " 
"  I  believe  he  gave  us  part  of  it  this  evening,"  said  Mar- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


121 


maduke,  laughing.  "There  was  now  and  then,  a  fearful 
quaver  in  his  voice,  and  it  seems  that  Mr.  Penguillian  is  like 
most  others  who  do  one  thing  particularly  well;  he  knows 
nothing  else.  He  has,  certainly,  a  wonderful  partiality  to 
one  tune,  and  he  has  a  prodigious  self-confidence  in  that 
one,  for  he  delivers  himself  like  a  northwester  sweeping 
across  the  lake.  But  come,  gentlemen,  our  way  is  clear 
and  the  sleigh  waits.  Good  evening,  Mr.  Grant.  Good- 
night, young  lady;  remember  that  you  dine  beneath  the 
Corinthian  roof  to-morrow,  with  Elizabeth." 

The  party  separated,  Richard  holding  a  close  disserta- 
tion with  Mr.  Le  Quoi,  as  they  descended  the  stairs,  on  the 
subject  of  psalmody,  which  he  closed  by  a  violent  eulogium 
on  the  air  of  the  "  Bay  of  Biscay,  0,"  as  particularly  con- 
nected with  his  friend  Benjamin's  execution. 

During  the  preceding  dialogue,  Mohegan  retained  his 
seat,  with  his  head  shrouded  in  his  blanket,  as  seemingly 
inattentive  to  -surrounding  objects  as  the  departing  con- 
gregation was,  itself,  to  the  presence  of  the  aged  chief. 
Natty,  also,  continued  on  the  log  where  he  had  first  placed 
himself,  with  his  head  resting  on  one  of  his  hands,  while 
the  other  held  the  rifle,  which  was  thrown  carelessly  across 
his  lap.  His  countenance  expressed  uneasiness,  and  the 
occasional  unquiet  glances  that  he  had  thrown  around  him 
during  the  service,  plainly  indicated  some  unusual  cause? 
for  unhappiness.  His  continuing  seated  was,  however,  out_ 
of  respect  to  the  Indian  chief,  to  whom  he  paid  the  utmost 
deference  on  all  occasions,  although  it  was  mingled  with 
the  rough  manner  of  a  hunter. 

The  young  companion  of  these  two  ancient  inhabitants 
of  the  forest  remained  also,  standing  before  the  extin- 
guished brands,  probably  from  an  unwillingness  to  depart 
without  his  comrades.  The  room  was  now  deserted  by  all 
but  this  group,  the  divine,  and  his  daughter.  As  the 
party  from  the  Mansion-house  disappeared,  John  arose, 
and  dropping  his  blanket  from  his  head,  he  shook  back 
the  mass  of  black  hair  from  his  face,  and  approaching  Mr. 
Grant,  he  extended  his  hand,  and  said  solemnly : — 
#  "  Father,  I  thank  you.  The  words  that  have  been  said, 
since  the  rising  moon,  have  gone  upward,  and  the  Great 
Spirit  is  glad.  What  you  have  told  your  children,  they 
will  remember,  and  be  good."  He  paused  a  moment,  and 
then,  elevating  himself  with  the  grandeur  of  an  Indian 
chief,  he  added,  "  If  Ohingachgook  lives  to  travel  towards 


122 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  setting  sun,  after  his  tribe,  and  the  Great  Spirit  carries 
him  over  the  lakes  and  mountains  with  the  breath  in  his 
body,  he  will  tell  his  people  the  good  talk  he  has  heard; 
and  they  will  believe  him ;  for  who  can  say  that  Mohegan 
has  ever  lied  ?  " 

"Let  him  place  his  dependence  on  the  goodness  of 
divine  mercy/'  said  Mr.  Grant,  to  whom  the  proud  con- 
sciousness of  the  Indian  sounded  a  little  heterodox,  "  and 
it  never  will  desert  him.  When  the  heart  is  filled  with 
-love  to  God  there  is  no  room  for  sin.  But,  young  man,  to 
you  I  owe  not  only  an  obligation,  in  common  with  those 
you  saved  this  evening  on  the  mountain,  but  my  thanks, 
for  your  respectful  and  pious  manner  in  assisting  in  the 
service  at  a  most  embarrassing  moment.  I  should  be 
happy  to  see  you  sometimes  at  my  dwelling,  when,  perhaps, 
my  conversation  may  strengthen  you  in  the  path  which 
you  appear  to  have  chosen.  It  is  so  unusual  to  find  one 
of  your  age  and  appearance,  in  these  woods,  at  all  ac- 
quainted with  our  holy  liturgy,  that  it  lessens  at  once  the 
distance  between  us,  and  I  feel  that  we  are  no  longer 
strangers.  You  seem  quite  at  home  in  the  service:  I  did 
not  perceive  that  you  had  even  a  book,  although  goo*  I  Mr. 
Jones  had  laid  several  in  different  parts  of  the  room/' 

"  It  would  be  strange  if  I  were  ignorant  of  the  service  of 
our  Church,  sir,"  returned  the  youth  modestly;  "  for  I  was 
baptized  in  its  communion,  and  I  have  never  yet  attended 
public  worship  elsewhere.  For  me  to  use  the  forms  of 
any  other  denomination,  would  be  as  singular  as  our  own 
have  proved  to  the  people  here  this  evening/? 

"  You  give  me  great  pleasure,  my  dear  sir/'  cried  the 
divine,  seizing  the  other  by  the  hand,  and  shaking  it  cor- 
dially. "You  will  go  home  with  me  now — indeed  you 
must — my  child  has  yet  to  thank  you  for  saving  my  life. 
I  will  listen  to  no  apologies.  This  worthy  Indian,  and 
your  friend  there,  will  accompany  us.  Bless  me!  to  think 
that  he  has  arrived  at  manhood  in  this  country,  without 
entering  a  dissenting 1  meeting-house !  " 

"  No,  no/'  interrupted  the  Leather-Stocking,  "  I  must 
away  to  the  wigwam ;  there's  work  there  that  mustn't  be 
forgotten  for  all  your  churchings  and  merry-makings.  Let 
the  lad  go  with  you  in  welcome;  he  is  used  to  keeping 


1  The  divines  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  (lie  United  States  com- 
monly call  other  denominations  Dissenters,  though  there  never  was  an  estab- 
lished church  in  their  own  country. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


173 


company  with  ministers,  and  talking  of  such  matters;  so 
is  old  John,  who  was  Christianized  by  the  Moravians  about 
the  time  of  the  old  war.  But  I  am  a  plain,  unParned  man, 
that  has  sarved  both  the  king  and  his  country,  in  his  day, 
agin  the  French  and  savages,  but  never  so  much  as  looked 
into  a  book,  or  larnt  a  letter  of  scholarship,  in  my  born 
days.  I've  never  seen  the  use  of  such  in-door  work,  though 
I  have  lived  to  be  partly  bald,  and  in  my  time  have  killed 
two  hundred  beaver  in  a  season,  and  that  without  count- 
ing the  other  game.  If  you  mistrust  what  I  am  telling 
you,  you  can  ask  Ohingachgook  there,  for  I  did  it  in  the 
heart  of  the  Delaware  country,  and  the  old  man  is  know- 
ing to  the  truth  of  every  word  I  say." 

"  I  doubt  not,  my  friend,  that  you  have  been  both  a 
valiant  soldier  and  skillful  hunter  in  your  day,"  said  the 
divine;  "but  more  is  wanting  to  prepare  you  for  that  end 
which  approaches.  You  may  have  heard  the  maxim,  that 
'Young  men  may  die,  but  that  old  men  ?mist.'" 

"  I'm  sure  I  never  was  so  great  a  fool  as  to  expect  to  live 
forever,"  said  Natty,  giving  one  of  his  silent  laughs;  "no 
man  need  do  that,  who  trails  the  savages  through  the 
woods,  as  I  have  done,  and  lives,  for  the  hot  months,  on 
the  lake  streams.  Fve  a  strong  constitution,  I  must  say 
that  for  myself,  as  is  plain  to  be  seen ;  for  I've  drunk  the 
Onondaga  water  a  hundred  times,  while  I've  been  watch- 
ing the  deerlicks,  when  the  fever-an-agy  seeds  was  to  be 
seen  in  it  as  plain  and  as  plenty  as  you  can  see  the  rattle- 
snakes on  old  Crumhorn.  But  then,  I  never  expected  to 
hold  out  forever;  though  there's  them  living  who  have 
seen  the  Garman  Flats  a  wilderness ;  aye !  and  them  that's 
Farned,  and  acquainted  with  religion,  too ;  though  you 
might  look  a  week,  now,  and  not  find  even  the  stump  of  a 
pine  on  them ;  and  that's  a  wood  that  lasts  in  the  ground 
the  better  part  of  a  hundred  years  after  the  tree  is  dead." 

"  This  is  but  time,  my  good  friend,"  returned  Mr.  Grant, 
who  began  to  take  an  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  new 
acquaintance,  "  but  I  would  have  you  prepare  for  eternity. 
It  is  incumbent  on  you  to  attend  places  of  public  worship, 
as  I  am  pleased  to  see  that  you  have  done  this  evening. 
Would  it  not  be  heedless  in  you  to  start  on  a  day's  toil  of 
hard  hunting,  and  leave  your  ramrod  and  flint  behind  ?  " 

"  It  must  be  a  young  hand  in  the  woods,"  interrupted 
Natty,  with  another  laugh,  "  that  didn't  know  how  to  dress 
a  rod  out  of  an  ash  sapling,  or  find  a  fire-stone  in  the  moun- 


124 


THE  PIONEERS. 


tains.  No,  no,  I  never  expected  to  live  forever;  but  I  see, 
times  be  altering  in  these  mountains  from  what  they  was 
thirty  years  ago,  or,  for  that  matter,  ten  years.  But  might 
makes  right,  and  the  law  _is  stronger  than  an  old  maru 
'iwhetKef  ne  is  one  that  has  mulih  Taming,  XyT only  one  like 
me,  that  is  better  now  at  standing  at  the  passes  than  in 
following  the  hounds,  as  I  once  used  to  could.  Heigh-ho ! 
I  never  knowed  preaching  come  into  a  settlement  but  it 
made  game  scarce,  and  raised  the  price  of  gunpowder;  and 
that's  a  thing  that's  not  as  easily  made  as  a  ramrod  or  an 
Indian  flint." 

The  divine,  perceiving  that  he  had  given  his  opponent 
an  argument  by  his  own  unfortunate  selection  of  a  com- 
parison, very  prudently  relinquished  the  controversy;  al- 
though he  was  fully  determined  to  resume  it  at  a  more 
happy  moment.  Kepeating  his  request  to  the  young 
hunter,  with  great  earnestness,  the  youth  and  Indian  con- 
sented to  accompany  him  and  his  daughter  to  the  dwelling 
that  the  care  of  Mr.  Jones  had  provided  for  their  temporary 
residence.  Leather-Stocking  persevered  in  his  intention 
of  returning  to  the  hut,  and  at  the  door  of  the  building 
they  separated. 

After  following  the  course  of  one  of  the  streets  of  the 
village  a  short  distance,  Mr.  Grant,  who  led  the  way,  turned 
into  a  field,  through  a  pair  of  open  bars,  and  entered  a 
footpath,  of  but  sufficient  width  to  admit  one  person  to 
walk  in  it  at  a  time.  The  moon  had  gained  a  height  that 
enabled  her  to  throw  her  rays  perpendicularly  on  the  valley; 
and  the  distinct  shadows  of  the  party  flitted  along  on  the 
banks  of  the  silver  snow,  like  the  presence  of  aerial  figures, 
gliding  to  their  appointed  place  of  meeting.  The  night 
still  continued  intensely  cold,  although  not  a  breath  of 
wind  was  felt.  The  path  was  beaten  so  hard,  that  the 
gentle  female,  who  made  one  of  the  party,  moved  with 
ease  along  its  windings ;  though  the  frost  emitted  a  low 
creaking  at  the  impression  of  even  her  light  footsteps. 

The  clergyman,  in  his  dark  dress  of  broadcloth,  with  his 
mild,  benevolent  countenance  occasionally  turned  towards 
his  companions,  expressing  that  look  of  subdued  care 
which  was  its  characteristic,  presented  the  first  object  in 
this  singular  group.  Next  to  him  moved  the  Indian,  his 
hair  falling  about  his  face,  his  head  uncovered,  and  the 
rest  of  his  form  concealed  beneath  his  blanket.  As  his 
swarthy  visage,  with  its  muscles  fixed  in  rigid  composure, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


125 


was  seen  under  the  light  of  the  moon,  which  struck  his 
face  obliquely,  he  seemed  a  picture  of  resigned  old  age  on 
whom  the  storms  of  winter  had  beaten  in  vain  for  the 
greater  part  of  a  century;  but  when,  in  turning  his  head, 
the  rays  fell  directly  on  his  dark,  fiery  eyes,  they  told  a  tale 
of  passions  unrestrained,  and  of  thoughts  free  as  air.  The 
slight  person  of  Miss  Grant,  which  followed  next,  and 
which  was  but  too  thinly  clad  for  the  severity  of  the  season, 
formed  a  marked  contrast  to  the  wild  attire  and  uneasy 
glances  of  the  Delaware  chief ;  and  more  than  once  during 
their  walk,  the  young  hunter,  himself  no  insignificant 
figure  in  the  group,  was  led  to  consider  the  difference  in 
the  human  form,  as  the  face  of  Mohegan,  and  the  gentle 
countenance  of  Miss  Grant,  with  eyes  that  rivaled  the  soft 
hue  of  the  sky,  met  his  view  at  the  instant  that  each 
turned  to  throw  a  glance  at  the  splendid  orb  which  lighted 
their  path.  Their  way,  which  led  through  fields  that  lay 
at  some  distance  in  the  rear  of  the  houses,  was  cheered  by 
a  conversation  that  flagged  or  became  animated  with  the 
subject.    The  first  to  speak  was  the  divine. 

"  Really,"  he  said,  "  it  is  so  singular  a  circumstance  to 
meet  with  one  of  your  age,  that  has  not  been  induced  by 
idle  curiosity  to  visit  any  other  church  than  the  one  in 
which  he  has  been  educated,  that  I  feel  a  strong  curiosity 
to  know  the  history  of  a  life  so  fortunately  regulated. 
Your  education  must  have  been  excellent;  as  indeed  is 
evident  from  your  manners  and  language.  Of  which  of 
the  States  are  you  a  native,  Mr.  Edwards  ?  for  such,  I  be- 
lieve, was  the  name  that  you  gave  Judge  Temple." 

"Of  this." 

"  Of  this !  I  was  at  a  loss  to  conjecture,  from  your  dialect, 
which  does  not  partake  particularly  of  the  peculiarities  of 
any  country  with  which  I  am  acquainted.  You  have  then 
resided  much  in  the  cities,  for  no  other  part  of  this  country 
is  so  fortunate  as  to  possess  the  constant  enjoyment  of  our 
excellent  liturgy." 

The  young  hunter  smiled,  as  he  listened  to  the  divine 
while  he  so  clearly  betrayed  from  what  part  of  the  country 
he  had  come  himself;  but  for  reasons  probably  connected 
with  his  present  situation,  he  made  no  answer. 

"  I  am  delighted  to  meet  with  you,  my  young  friend,  for 
I  think  an  ingenuous  mind,  such  as  I  doubt  not  yours 
must  be,  will  exhibit  all  the  advantages  of  a  settled  doc- 
trine and  devout  liturgy.    You  perceive  how  I  was  com- 


126 


THE  PIONEERS. 


pelled  to  bend  to  the  humors  of  my  hearers  this  evening. 
Good  Mr.  J  ones  wished  me  to  read  the  communion,  and, 
in  fact,  all  the  morning  service;  but,  happily,  the  canons 
do  not  require  this  of  an  evening.  It  would  have  wearied 
a  new  congregation :  but  to-morrow  I  purpose  administer- 
ing the  sacrament.  Do  you  commune,  my  young  friend  ?  " 

"  I  believe  not,  sir/'  returned  the  youth,  with  a  little  em- 
barrassment, that  was  not  at  all  diminished  by  Miss  Grant's 
pausing  involuntarily,  and  turning  her  eyes  on  him  in  sur- 
prise, "  I  fear  that  I  am  not  qualified;  I  have  never  yet  ap- 
proached the  altar;  neither  would  I  wish  to  do  it,  while  I 
find  so  much  of  the  world  clinging  to  my  heart.* 

"  Each  must  judge  for  himself/'  said  Mr.  Grant ;  "  though 
I  should  think  that  a  youth  who  had  never  been  blown 
about  by  the  wind  of  false  doctrines,  and  who  has  enjoyed 
the  advantages  of  our  liturgy  for  so  many  years  in  its  purity, 
^might  safely  come.  Yet,  sir,  it  is  a  solemn  festival,  which 
none  should  celebrate  until  there  is  reason  to  hope  it  is 
not  mockery.  I  observed  this  evening,  in  your  manner  to 
Judge  Temple,  a  resentment  that  bordered  on  one  of  the 
worst  of  human  passions.  We  will  cross  this  brook  on  the 
ice :  it  must  bear  us  all,  I  think,  in  safety.  Be  careful  not 
to  slip,  my  child."  While  speaking,  he  descended  a  little 
bank  by  the  path,  and  crossed  one  of  the  small  streams 
that  poured  their  waters  into  the  lake ;  and,  turning  to  see 
his  daughter  pass,  observed  that  the  youth  had  advanced, 
and  was  kindly  directing  her  footsteps.  When  all  were 
safely  over,  he  moved  up  the  opposite  bank,  and  continued 
his  discourse.  "  It  was  wrong,  my  dear  sir,  very  wrong,  to 
suffer  such  feelings  to  rise,  under  any  circumstances,  and 
especially  in  the  present,  where  the  evil  was  not  intended." 

"  There  is  good  in  the  talk  of  my  father,"  said  Mohegan, 
stopping  short,  and  causing  those  who  were  behind  him  to 
pause  also ;  "  it  is  the  talk  of  Miquon.  The  white  man 
may  do  as  his  fathers  have  told  him;  but  the  Young  Eagle 
has  the  blood  of  a  Delaware  chief  in  his  veins :  it  is  red, 
and  the  stain  it  makes  can  only  be  washed  out  with  the 
blood  of  a  Mingo." 

Mr.  Grant  was  surprised  by  the  interruption  of  the  In- 
dian, and,  stopping,  faced  the  speaker.  His  mild  features 
were  confronted  to  the  fierce  and  determined  looks  of  the 
chief,  and  expressed  the  horror  he  felt  at  hearing  such  senti- 
ments from  one  who  professed  the  religion  of  his  Saviour. 
Raising  his  hands  to  a  level  with  his  head,  he  exclaimed, — 


THE  PIONEERS. 


127 


"John,  John!  is  this  the  religion  that  you  hare  learned 
from  the  Moravians  ?  But  no— I  will  not' be  so  uncharita- 
ble as  to  suppose  it.  They  are  a  pious,  a  gentle,  and  a 
mild  people,  and  could  never  tolerate  these  passions.  Lis- 
ten to  the  language  of  the  Redeemer :  '  But  I  say  unto  you, 

luVe  y.(!U1lelnejmies;  bless  tnem  tnat  cursevou;  do"  goocTto 
tn^tnaOate  you^;~ray£or  themTEaT despitef ulTyTTse 
you  ana  persecute  you/ ^Thls  is  the  command  of  "God. 
John,  and  without  striving  to  cultivate  such  feelings,  no' 
man  can  see  Him."   Gvcv-v^  V>  ^  1^^Xouv\ 

The  Indian  heard  the  divine  with  attention ;  the  unusual 
fire  of  his  eye  gradually  softened,  and  his  muscles  relaxed 
into  their  ordinary  composure;  but,  slightly  shaking  his 
head,  he  motioned  with  dignity  for  Mr.  Grant  to  resume 
his  walk,  and  followed  himself  in  silence.  The  agitation 
of  the  divine  caused  him  to  move  with  unusual  rapidity 
along  the  deep  path,  and  the  Indian,  without  any  apparent 
exertion,  kept  an  equal  pace;  but  the  young  hunter  ob- 
served the  female  to  linger  in  her  steps,  until  a  trifling  dis- 
tance intervened  between  the  two  former  and  the  latter. 
Struck  by  the  circumstance,  and  not  perceiving  any  new 
impediment  to  retard  her  footsteps,  the  youth  made  a 
tender  of  his  assistance. 

"You  are  fatigued,  Miss  Grant,"  he  said;  "the  snow 
yields  to  the  foot,  and  you  are  unequal  to  the  strides  of  us 
men.    Step  on  the  crust,  I  entreat  you,  and  take  the  help 
of  my  arm.    Yonder  light  is,  I  believe,  the  house  of  your 
.father;  but  it  seems  yet  at  some  distance." 

"I  am  quite  equal  to  the  walk,"  returned  a  low,  tremu- 
lous voice;  "but  I  am  startled  by  the  manner  of  that  In- 
dian. 0 !  his  eye  was  horrid,  as  he  turned  to  the  moon,  in 
speaking  to  my  father.  But  I  forget,  sir;  he  is  your 
friend,  and  by  his  language  may  be  your  relative;  and  yet- 
of  you  I  do  not  feel  afraid." 

The  young  man  stepped  on  the  bank  of  snow,  which 
firmly  sustained  his  weight,  and  by  a  gentle  effort  induced 
his  companion  to  follow.  Drawing  her  arm  through  his 
own,  he  lifted  his  cap  from  his  head,  allowing  the  dark 
locks  to  flow  in  rich  curls  over  his  open  brow,  and  walked 
by  her  side  with  an  air  of  conscious  pride,  as  if  inviting 
an  examination  of  his  inmost  thoughts.  Louisa  took  but 
a  furtive  glance  at  his  person,  and  moved  quietly  along  at 
a  rate  that  was  greatly  quickened  by  the  aid  of  his  arm. 
You  are  but  little  acquainted  with  this  peculiar  people, 


128 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Miss  Grant,"  he  said,  "or  you  would  know  that  revenge  is 
a  virtue  with  an  Indian.  They  are  taught,  from  infancy 
upwards,  to  believe  it  a  duty  never  to  allow  an  injury  to 
pass  unrevenged ;  and  nothing  but  the  stronger  claims  of 
hospitality  can  guard  one  against  their  resentments,  where 
they  have  power." 

"  Surely,  sir,"  said  Miss  Grant,  involuntarily  withdraw- 
ing her  arm  from  his,  "  you  have  not  been  educated  with 
such  unholy  sentiments." 

"It  might  be  a  sufficient  answer  to  your  excellent 
father,  to  say,  that  I  was  educated  in  the  Church,"  he 
returned ;  "  but  to  you  I  will  add,  that  I  have  been  taught 
deep  and  practical  lessons  of  forgiveness.  I  believe  that, 
on  this  subject,  I  have  but  little  cause  to  reproach  myself ; 
it  shall  be  my  endeavor  that  there  yet  be  less." 

While  speaking,  he  stopped,  and  stood  with  his  arm 
again  proffered  to  her  assistance.  As  he  ended,  she  quietly 
accepted  his  offer,  and  they  resumed  their  walk. 

Mr.  Grant  and  Mohegan  had  reached  the  door  of  the 
former's  residence,  and  stood  waiting  near  its  threshold  for 
the  arrival  of  their  young  companions.  The  former  was 
earnestly  occupied  in  endeavoring  to  correct,  by  his  pre- 
cepts, the  evil  propensities  that  he  had  discovered  in  the 
Indian  during  their  conversation;  to  which  the  latter 
listened  in  profound,  but  respectful  attention.  On  the 
arrival  of  the  young  hunter  and  the  lady,  they  entered 
the  building.  The  house  stood  at  some  distance  from  the 
village,  in  the  centre  of  a  field,  surrounded  by  stumps  that 
were  peering  above  the  snow,  bearing  caps  of  pure  white, 
nearly  two  feet  in  thickness.  Not  a  tree  nor  a  shrub  was 
nigh  it ;  but  the  house  externally  exhibited  that  cheerless, 
unfinished  aspect  which  is  so  common  to  the  hastily 
erected  dwellings  of  a  new  country.  The  uninviting  char- 
acter of  its  outside  was,  however,  happily  relieved  by  the 
exquisite  neatness  and  comfortable  warmth  within. 

They  entered  an  apartment  that  was  fitted  as  a  parlor, 
though  the  large  fire-place,  with  its  culinary  arrangements, 
betrayed  the  domestic  uses  to  which  it  was  occasionally 
applied.  The  bright  blaze  from  the  hearth  rendered  the 
light  that  proceeded  from  the  candle  Louisa  produced,  un- 
necessary; for  the  scanty  furniture  of  the  room  was  easily 
seen  and  examined  by  the  former.  The  floor  was  covered 
in  the  centre  by  a  carpet  made  of  rags,  a  species  of  manu- 
facture that  was  then,  and  yet  continues  to  be,  much  in 


THE  PIONEERS.  l2g 

use  in  the  interior;  while  its  edges,  that  were  exposed  to 
view,  were  of  unspotted  cleanliness.  There  was  a  trifling 
air  of  better  life  in  a  tea-table  and  work-stand,  as  well  as 
m  an  old-fashioned  mahogany  book-case;  but  the  chairs, 
the  dmmg-table,  and  the  rest  of  the  furniture,  were  of  the 
plainest  and  cheapest  construction.  Against  the  walls 
were  hung  a  few  specimens  of  needle-work  and  drawing, 
the  former  executed  with  great  neatness,  though  of  some- 
what equivocal  merit  in  their  designs,  while  the  latter  were 
strikingly  deficient  in  both. 

One  of  the  former  represented  a  tomb,  with  a  youthful 
female  weeping  over  it,  exhibiting  a  church  with  arched 
windows  m  the  background.  On  the  tomb  were  the  names, 
with  the  dates  of  the  births  and  deaths,  of  several  indi- 
viduals, all  of  whom  bore  the  name  of  Grant.  An  ex- 
tremely cursory  glance  at  this  record  was  sufficient  to  dis- 
cover to  the  young  hunter  the  domestic  state  of  the  divine, 
ff^jy^gre  read,  that  he  was_a  widower;  and  that  the  inno- 
LOXN  cent^n^gffiid  maiden,  whiTKaoTbeen  his  companion,  was 
-  thejDnl^ rviYor  of  six  children.  The  knowledge  of  the 
depen^ellcy^ich^acrorWse  meek  Christians  had  on 
the  other,  tor  happiness,  threw  an  additional  charm  around 
the  gentle,  but  kind  attentions,  which  the  daughter  paid 
to  the  father.  r 

These  observations  occurred  while  the  party  were  seat- 
ing themselves  before  the  cheerful  fire,  during  which  time 
there  was  a  suspension  of  discourse.  But  when  each  was 
comfortably  arranged,  and  Louisa,  after  laying  aside  a  thin 
coat  of  faded  silk,  and  a  gipsy  hat,  that  was  more  becom- 
ing to  her  modest,  ingenuous  countenance  than  appropriate 
to  the  season,  had  taken  a  chair  between  her  father  and 
the  youth,  the  former  resumed  the  conversation 

'1 -trust,  my  young  friend,"  he  said,  "that  the  education 
you  have  received  has  eradicated  most  of  those  revengeful 
principles  which  you  may  have  inherited  by  descent,  for  I 
understand  from  the  expressions  of  John,  that  you  have 
some  of  the  blood  of  the  Delaware  tribe.  Do  not  mistake 
me,  1  beg,  for  it  is  not  color,  nor  lineage,  that  constitutes 
merit;  and  I  know  not  that  he  who  claims  affinity  to  the 
proper  owners  of  this  soil  has  not  the  best  right  to  tread 
these  hills  with  the  lightest  conscience." 

Mohegan  turned  solemnly  to  the  speaker,  and,  with  the 
peculiarly  significant  gestures  of  an  Indian,  he  spoke: 
father,  you  are  not  yet  past  the  summer  of  life;  your 
5 


I3o  THE  PIONEERS. 

limbs  are  young.  Go  to  the  highest  hill,  and  look  around 
you  All  that  you  see,  from  the  rising  to  the  setting  sun, 
from  the  head  waters  of  the  great  spring,  to  where  the 
Crooked  River  1  is  hid  by  the  hills,  is  his.  He  has  Dela- 
ware blood,  and  his  right  is  strong.  But  the  brother  of 
Miquon  is  just;  he  will  cut  the  country  m  two  parts,  us 
the  river  cuts  the  lowlands,  and  will  say  to  the  Young 
Eagle,  Child  of  the  Delawares!  take  it— keep  it— and  be  a 
chief  in  the  land  of  your  fathers." 

"Never!"  exclaimed  the  young  hunter,  with  a  vehe- 
mence that  destroyed  the  rapt  attention  with  which  the 
divine  and  his  daughter  were  listening  to  the  Indian. 
"  The  wolf  of  the  forest  is  not  more  rapacious  for  his  prey, 
than  that  man  is  greedy  of  gold;  and  yet  his  glidings  into 
wealth  are  subtle  as  the  movements  of  a  serpent." 

"Forbear,  forbear,  my  son,  forbear,"  interrupted  Mr. 
Grant.  "These  angry  passions  must  be  subdued.  The 
accidental  injury  you  have  received  from  Judge  Temple 
has  heightened  the  sense  of  your  hereditary  wrongs.  But 
remember  that  the  one  was  unintentional,  and  that  the 
other  is  the  eff ect  of  political  changes,  which  have,  m  their 
course,  greatly  lowered  the  pride  of  kings,  and  swept 
mighty  nations  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  Where  now 
are  the  Philistines,  who  so  often  held  the  children  of 
Israel  in  bondage  ?  or  that  city  of  Babylon,  which  rioted 
in  luxury  and  vice,  and  who  styled  herself  the  Queen  of 
Nations  in  the  drunkenness  of  her  pride  ?  Remember  the 
prayer  of  our  holy  litany  where  we  implore  the  Divine 
Power— 'that  it  may  please  Thee  to  forgive  our  enemies, 
persecutors,  and  slanderers,  and  to  turn  their  hearts.  1  he 
sin  of  the  wrongs  which  have  been  done  to  the  natives  is 
shared  by  Judge  Temple  only  in  common  with  a  whole 
people,  and  your  arm  will  speedily  be  restored  to  its 
strength."  ,        .      , ,  n 

"  This  arm ! "  repeated  the  youth,  pacing  the  floor  m 
violent  agitation.  "  Think  you,  sir,  that  I  believe  the  man 
a  murderer  ?  0,  no!  he  is  too  wily,  too  cowardly  for  such 
a  crime.  But  let  him  and  his  daughter  not  in  their 
wealth;  a  day  of  retribution  will  come.  No,  no,  no,  he 
continued,  as  he  trod  the  floor  more  calmly,  ,  it  is  for 
Mohegan  to  suspect  him  of  an  intent  to  injure  me:  but 
the  trifle  is  not  worth  a  second  thought/^  

i The  Susquehai^niieans  -crooked  river;  »  "  Hannah,"  ^^Xn^m'k 
meant  "rive.^  in  many  of  the  native  dialects,  'lln.s  find  Rappahannock 
as  far  south  as  Virginia. 


THE  PIONEERS.  ,3r 

He  seated  himself,  and  hid  his  face  between  his  hands, 
as  they  rested  on  his  knees. 

"  It  is  the  hereditary  violence  of  a  native's  passion,  my 
child,"  said  Mr.  Grant  in  a  low  tone,  to  his  affrighted 
daughter,  who  was  clinging  in  terror  to  his  arm.  "  He  is 
mixed  with  the  blood  of  the  Indians,  you  have  heard ;  and 
neither  the  refinements  of  education,  nor  the  advantages  of 
our  excellent  liturgy,  have  been  able  entirely  to  eradicate 
the  evil.    But  care  and  time  will  do  much  for  him  yet." 

Although  the  divine  spoke  in  a  low  tone,  yet  what  he 
uttered  was  heard  by  the  youth,  who  raised  his  head,  with 
a  smile  of  indefinite  expression,  and  spoke  more  calmly. 

"Be  not  alarmed,  Miss  Grant,  at  either  the  wildness  of 
my  manner  or  that  of  my  dress.  I  have  been  carried  away 
by  passions  that  I  should  struggle  to  repress.  I  must  at- 
tribute it,  with  your  father,  to  the  blood  in  my  veins, 
although  I  would  not  impeach  my  lineage  willingly;  for 
it  is  all  that  is  left  me  to  boast  of.  Yes !  I  am  proud  of 
my  descent  from  a  Delaware  chief,  who  was  a  warrior  that 
ennobled  human  nature.  Old  Mohegan  was  his  friend 
and  will  vouch  for  his  virtues." 

Mr.  Grant  here  took  up  the  discourse,  and,  finding  the 
young  man  more  calm,  and  the  aged  chief  attentive,  he 
entered  into  a  full  and  theological  discussion  of  the  duty 
of  forgiveness,  The  conversation  lasted  for  more  than  an 
hour,  when  the  visitors  arose,  and,  after  exchanging  good 
wishes  with  their  entertainers,  they  departed.  At  the  door 
they  separated,  Mohegan  taking  the  direct  route  to  the 
village,  while  the  youth  moved  towards  the  lake.  The 
divine  stood  at  the  entrance  of  his  dwelling,  regarding  the 
figure  of  the  aged  chief  as  it  glided,  at  an  astonishing  gait 
for  his  years,  along  the  deep  path;  his  black,  straight  hair 
just  visible  over  the  bundle  formed  by  his  blanket,  which 
was  sometimes  blended  with  the  snow,  under  the  silvery 
light  of  the  moon.  From  the  rear  of  the  house  was  a 
window  that  overlooked  the  lake;  and  here  Louisa  was 
found  by  her  father,  when  he  entered,  gazing  intently  on 
some  object  in  the  direction  of  the  eastern  mountain.  He 
approached  the  spot,  and  saw  the  figure  of  the  young 
hunter,  at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile,  walking  with  pro- 
digious steps  across  the  wide  fields  of  frozen  snow  that 
covered  the  ice,  towards  the  point  where  he  knew  the  hut 
inhabited  by  the  Leather-Stocking  was  situated  on  the 
margin  of  the  lake,  under  a  rock  that  was  crowned  by  pines 


132 


THE  PIONEERS. 


and  hemlocks.  At  the  next  instant,  the  wildly-looking 
form  entered  the  shadow  cast  from  the  overhanging  trees, 
and  was  lost  to  view. 

"  It  is  marvelous  how  long  the  propensities  of  the  savage 
continue  in  that  remarkable  race/'  said  the  good  divine; 
"  but  if  he  persevere  as  he  has  commenced,  his  triumph 
shall  yet  be  complete.  Put  me  in  mind,  Louisa,  to  lend 
him  the  homily  'Against  Peril  of  Idolatry/  at  his  next 

«  Surely,  father,  you  do  not  think  him  m  danger  of  re- 
lapsing into  the  worship  of  his  ancestors! 99 

"No,  my  child,"  returned  the  clergyman,  laying^ his 
hand  affectionately  on  her  flaxen  locks,  and  smiling;  "his 
white  blood  would  prevent  it;  but  there  is  such  a  thing  as 
the  idolatry  of  our  passions." 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


And  I'll  drink  out  of  the  quart  pot,- 
Here's  a  health  to  the  barley  mow. 

Drinking  Song. 


On  one  of  the  corners  where  the  two  principal  streets 
of  Templeton  intersected  each  other,  stood,  as  we  have 
already  mentioned,  the  inn  called  the  "  Bold  Dragoon." 
In  the  original  plan,  it  was  ordained  that  the  village  should 
stretch  along  the  little  stream  that  rushed  down  the  valley ; 
and  the  street  which  led  from  the  lake  to  the  academy  was 
intended  to  be  its  western  boundary.  But  convenience 
frequently  frustrates  the  best  regulated  plans.  The  house 
of  Mr.,  or  as,  in  consequence  of  commanding  the  militia 
of  that  vicinity,  he  was  called,  Captain  Hollister,  had,  at 
an  early  day,  been  erected  directly  facing  the  mam  street, 
and  ostensibly  interposed  a  barrier  to  its  further  progress. 
Horsemen,  and  subsequently  teamsters,  however,  availed 
themselves  of  an  opening,  at  the  end  of  the  building,  to 
shorten  their  passage  westward,  until,  in  time,  the  regular 
highway  was  laid  out  along  this  course,  and  houses  were 
gradually  built  on  either  side,  so  as  effectually  to  prevent 
any  subsequent  correction  of  the  evil. 

Two  material  consequences  followed  this  change  m  the 
regular  plans  of  Marmaduke.    The  main  street,  after  run- 


THE  jHiUNEERS.  133 

ning  about  half  its  length,  was  suddenly  reduced  to  pre- 
cisely that  difference  in  its  width;  and  the  *  Bold  Dragoon 93 
became,  next  to  the  Mansion-house,  by  far  the  most  con- 
spicuous edifice  in  the  place. 

This  conspicuousness,  aided  by  the  characters  of  the  host 
and  hostess,  gave  the  tavern  an  advantage  over  all  its  future 
competitors,  that  no  circumstances  could  conquer.  An 
effort  was,  however,  made  to  do  so;  and  at  the  corner 
diagonally  opposite,  stood  a  new  building  that  was  in- 
tended, by  its  occupants,  to  look  down  all  opposition.  It 
was  a  house  of  wood,  ornamented  in  the  prevailing  style  of 
architecture,  and  about  the  roof  and  balustrades,  was  one 
of  the  three  imitators  of  the  Mansion-house.  The  upper  win- 
dows were  filled  with  rough  boards  secured  by  nails,  to 
keep  out  the  cold  air;  for  the  edifice  was  far  from  finished, 
although  glass  was  to  be  seen  in  the  lower  apartments,  and 
the  light  of  the  powerful  fires  within  denoted  that  it  was 
already  inhabited.    The  exterior  was  painted  white  on  the 
front,  and  on  the  end  which  was  exposed  to  the  street; 
but  m  the  rear,  and  on  the  side  which  was  intended  to 
30m  the  neighboring  house,  it  was  coarsely  smeared  with 
fepamsh  brown.    Before  the  door  stood  two  lofty  posts, 
connected  at  the  top  by  a  beam,  from  which  was  suspended 
an  enormous  sign,  ornamented  around  its  edges  with  cer- 
tain curious  carvings  in  pine  boards,  and  on  its  faces 
loaded  with  masonic  emblems.    Over  these  mysterious 
figures  was  written,  in  large  letters,  "The  Templeton 
Coffee-House,  and  Travellers'  Hotel,"  and  beneath  them, 
By  Habakkuk  Foote  and  Joshua  Knapp."    This  was  a 
fearful  rival  to  the  "Bold  Dragoon,"- as  our  readers  will 
the  more  readily  perceive,  when  we  add  that  the  same 
sonorous  names  were  to  be  seen  over  the  door  of  a  newly 
erected  store  in  the  village,  a  hatter's  shop,  and  the  gates 
ol  a  tan-yard.    But,  either  because  too  much  was  at- 
tempted to  be  executed  well,  or  that  the  "Bold  Dragoon" 
had  established  a  reputation  which  could  not  be  easily 
shaken,  not  only  Judge  Temple  and  his  friends,  but  most 
ot  the  villagers  also,  who  were  not  in  debt  to  the  powerful 
firm  we  have  named,  frequented  the  inn  of  Captain  Hollis- 
ter,  on  all  occasions  where  such  a  house  was  necessary. 

On  the  present  evening  the  limping  veteran  and  his 
consort  were  hardly  housed  after  their  return  from  the 
academy,  when  the  sounds  of  stamping  feet  at  their  thres- 
hold announced  the  approach  of  visitors,  who  were  proba- 


134 


THE  PIONEERS. 


bly  assembling  with  a  view  to  compare  opinions  on  the 
subject  of  the  ceremonies  they  had  witnessed. 

The  public,  or  as  it  was  called,  the  "  bar-room,"  of  the 
"  Bold  Dragoon,"  was  a  spacious  apartment,  lined  on  three 
sides  with  benches,  and  on  the  fourth  by  fire-places.  Of 
the  latter  there  were  two  of  such  size  as  to  occupy,  with 
their  enormous  jambs,  the  whole  of  that  side  of  the  apart- 
ment where  they  were  placed,  excepting  room  enough  for 
a  door  or  two,  and  a  little  apartment  in  one  corner,  which 
was  protected  by  miniature  palisadoes,  and  profusely  gar- 
nished with  bottles  and  glasses.  In  the  entrance  to  this 
sanctuary,  Mrs.  Hollister  was  seated,  with  great  gravity  in 
her  air,  while  her  husband  occupied  himself  with  stirring 
the  fires;  moving  the  logs  with  a  large  stake  burnt  to  a 
point  at  one  end. 

"There,  sargeant,  dear,"  said  the  landlady,  after  she 
thought  the  veteran  had  got  the  logs  arranged  in  the  most 
judicious  manner,  "  give  over  poking,  for  it's  no  good  ye'll 
be  doing,  now  that  they  burn  so  convaniently.  There's 
the  glasses  on  the  table  there,  and  the  mug  that  the  Doctor 
was  taking  his  cider  and  ginger  in,  before  the  fire  here — 
just  put  them  in  the  bar,  will  ye  ?  for  we'll  be  having  the 
Jooge,  and  the  Major,  and  Mr.  Jones  down  the  night, 
without  reckoning  Benjamin  Poomp,  and  the  lawyers;  so 
ye'll  be  fixing  the  room  tidy;  and  put  both  flip-irons  in 
the  coals ;  and  tell  Jude,  the  lazy  black  baste,  that  if  she's 
no  be  claneing  up  the  kitchen  I'll  turn  her  out  of  the 
house,  and  she  may  live  wid  the  jontlemen  that  keep  the 
'  CofTee-House,'  good  luck  to  'em.  Och !  sargeant,  sure  it's 
a  great  privilege  to  go  to  a  mateing  where  a  body  can  sit 
asy,  widout  joomping  up  and  down  so  often,  as  this  Mr. 
Grant  is  doing  that  same." 

"  It's  a  privilege  at  all  times,  Mrs.  Hollister,  whether  we 
stand  or  be  seated;  or,  as  good  Mr.  Whitefield  used  to  do 
after  he  had  made  a  wearisome  day's  march,  get  on  our 
knees  and  pray,  like  Moses  of  old,  with  a  flanker  to  the 
right  and  left,  to  lift  his  hands  to  heaven,"  returned  her 
husband,  who  composedly  performed  what  she  had  di- 
rected to  be  done.  "It  was  a  very  pretty  fight,  Betty, 
that  the  Israelites  had  on  that  day  with  the  Amalekites. 
It  seems  that  they  fon't  on  a  plain,  for  Moses  is  mentioned 
as  having  gone  on  to  the  heights  to  overlook  the  battle, 
and  wrestle  in  prayer;  and  if  I  should  judge,  with  my 
little  l'arning,  the  Israelites  depended  mainly  on  their 


THE  PIONEERS. 


135 


horse,  for  it  is  written  that  Joshua  cut  up  the  enemy  with 
the  edge  of  the  sword,  from  which  I  infer,  not  only  that 
they  were  horse,  but  well  disciplyned  troops.  Indeed,  it 
says  as  much  as  that  they  were  chosen  men ;  quite  likely 
volunteers;  for  raw  dragoons  seldom  strike  with  the  edge 
of  their  swords,  particularly  if  the  weapon  be  any  way 
crooked." 

"Pshaw!  why  do  ye  bother  yourself  wid  taxts,  man, 
about  so  small  a  matter,"  interrupted  the  landlady;  "sure, 
it  was  the  Lord  who  was  with  'em;  for  He  always  sided 
wid  the  Jews,  before  they  fell  away;  and  it's  but  little 
matter  what  kind  of  men  Joshua  commanded,  so  that  he 
was  doing  the  right  bidding.  Aven  them  cursed  millaishy 
—the  Lord  forgive  me  for  swearing — that  was  the  death  of 
him,  wid  their  cowardice,  would  have  carried  the  day  in 
old  times.  There's  no  r'ason  to  be  thinking  that  the  sol- 
diers were  used  to  the  drill." 

"  I  must  say,  Mrs.  Hollister,  that  I  have  not  often  seen 
raw  troops  fight  better  than  the  left  flank  of  the  militia, 
at  the  time  you  mention.  They  rallied  handsomely,  and 
that  without  beat  of  drum,  which  is  no  easy  thing  to  do 
under  fire,  and  were  very  steady  till  he  fell.  But  the 
Scriptures  contain  no  unnecessary  words;  and  I  will  main- 
tain that  horse,  who  know  how  to  strike  with  the  edge  of 
the  sword,  must  be  well  disciplyned.  Many  a  good  sarmon 
has  been  preached  about  smaller  matters  than  that  one 
word !  _  If  the  text  was  not  meant  to  be  particular,  why 
wasn't  it  written  with  the  sword,  and  not  with  the  edge  ? 
Now,  a  backhanded  stroke,  on  the  edge,  takes  long  prac- 
tice. Goodness !  what  an  argument  would  Mr.  Whitefield 
make  of  that  word  edge!  As  to  the  captain,  if  he  had 
called  up  the  guard  of  dragoons  when  he  rallied  the  foot, 
they  would  have  shown  the  inimy  what  the  edge  of  a  sword 
was;  for,  although  there  was  no  commissioned  officer  with 
them,  yet  I  think  I  may  say,"  the  veteran  continued,  stiff- 
ening his  cravat  about  the  throat,  and  raising  himself  up, 
with  the  air  of  a  drill  sergeant,  "  they  were  led  by  a  man 
who  knowed  how  to  bring  them  on,  in  spite  of  the  ravine." 

"Is  it  lade  on  ye  would,"  cried  the  landlady  "  when  ye 
know  yourself,  Mr.  Hollister,  that  the  baste  he  rode  was 
but  little  able  to  joomp  from  one  rock  to  another,  and  the 
animal  was  as  spry  as  a  squirrel  ?  Och !  but  it's  useless  to 
talk,  for  he's  gone  this  many  a  year.  I  would  that  he  had 
lived  to  see  the  true  light;  but  there's  mercy  for  a  brave 


i36 


THE  PIONEERS. 


sowl,  that  died  in  the  saddle,  fighting  for  the  liberty.  It 
is  a  poor  tombstone  they  have  given  him,  anyway,  and 
many  a  good  one  that  died  like  himself;  but  the  sign  is 
very  like,  and  I  will  be  kapeing  it  up,  while  the  black- 
smith can  make  a  hook  for  it  to  swing  on,  for  all  the 
'  coffee-houses '  betwane  this  and  Albany." 

There  is  no  saying  where  this  desultory  conversation 
would  have  led  the  worthy  couple,  had  not  the  men,  who 
were  stamping  the  snow  off  their  feet,  on  the  little  plat- 
form before  the  door,  suddenly  ceased  their  occupation, 
and  entered  the  bar-room.  .  • 

For  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  the  different  individuals, 
who  intended  either  to  bestow  or  receive  edification,  before 
the  fires  of  the  "  Bold  Dragoon,"  on  that  evening,  were 
collecting,  until  the  benches  were  nearly  filled  with  men 
of  different  occupations.  Dr.  Todd  and  a  slovenly-lookmg, 
shabby-genteel  young  man,  who  took  tobacco  profusely, 
wore  a  coat  of  imported  cloth,  cut  with  something  like  a 
fashionable  air,  frequently  exhibited  a  large  French  silver 
watch,  with  a  chain  of  woven  hair  and  a  silver  key,  and 
who,  altogether,  seemed  as  much  above  the  artisans  around 
him'as  he  was  himself  inferior  to  the  real  gentleman,  oc- 
cupied a  high-back  wooden  settee,  in  the  most  comfortable 
corner  in  the  apartment. 

Sundry  brown  mugs,  containing  cider  or  beer,  were 
placed  between  the  heavy  andirons,  and  little  groups  were 
formed  among  the  guests,  as  subjects  arose,  or  the  liquor 
was  passed  from  one  to  the  other.  No  man  was  seen  to 
drink  by  himself,  nor  in  any  instance  was  more  than  one 
vessel  considered  necessary  for  the  same  beverage ;  but  the 
glass,  or  the  mug,  was  passed'  from  hand  to  hand,  until 
the  chasm  in  the  line,  or  a  regard  to  the  rights  of  owner- 
ship, would  regularly  restore  the  dregs  of  the  potation  to 
him  who  defrayed  the  cost. 

Toasts  were  uniformly  drunk;  and,  occasionally,  some 
one,  who  conceived  himself  peculiarly  endowed  by  nature 
to  shine  in  the  way  of  wit,  would  attempt  some  such  senti- 
ment as  "hoping  that  he"  who  treated,  " might  make  a 
better  man  than  his  father;"  or,  "live  till  all  his  friends 
wished  him  dead ;"  while  the  more  humble  pot-companion 
contented  himself  by  saying,  with  a  most  imposing  gravity 
in  his  air,  "  Come,  here's  luck  "  or  by  expressing  some 
other  equally  comprehensive  desire.  In  every  instance, 
the  veteran  landlord  was  requested  to  imitate  the  custom 


THE  PIONEERS. 


of  the  cupbearers  to  kings,  and  taste  the  liquor  he  pre- 
sented, by  the  invitation  of  "  After  you  is  manners,"  with 
which  request  he  ordinarily  complied,  by  wetting  his  lips, 
first  expressing  the  wish  of  "Here's  hoping,"  leaving  it  to 
the  imagination  of  the  hearers  to  fill  the  vacuum  by  what- 
ever good  each  thought  most  desirable.  During  these 
movements,  the  landlady  was  busily  occupied  with  mixing 
the  various  compounds  required  by  her  customers,  with 
her  own  hands,  and  occasionally  exchanging  greetings  and 
inquiries  concerning  the  conditions  of  their  respective 
families,  with  such  of  the  villagers  as  approached  the  bar. 

At  length  the  common  thirst  being  in  some  measure  as- 
suaged, conversation  of  a  more  general  nature  became  the 
order  of  the  hour.  The  physician,  and  his  companion, 
who  was  one  of  the  two  lawyers  of  the  village,  being  con- 
sidered the  best  qualified  to  maintain  a  public  discourse 
with  credit,  were  the  principal  speakers,  though  a  remark 
was  hazarded  now  and  then  by  Mr.  Doolittle,  who  was 
thought  to  be  their  inferior  only  in  the  enviable  point  of 
education.  A  general  silence  was  produced  on  all  but  t,he 
two  speakers  by  the  following  observation  from  the  practi- 
tioner of  the  law : — 

"  So,  Dr.  Todd,  I  understand  that  you  have  been  per- 
forming an  important  operation  this  evening  by  cutting  a 
charge  of  buck-shot  from  the  shoulder  of  the  son  of 
Leather-Stocking  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  returned  the  other,  elevating  his  little  head 
with  an  air  of  importance.  "  I  had  a  small  job  up  at  the 
Judge's,  in  that  way;  it  was,  however,  but  a  trifle  to  what 
it  might  have  been  had  it  gone  through  the  body.  The 
shoulder  is  not  a  very  vital  part;  and  I  think  the  young 
man  will  soon  be  well.  But  I  did  not  know  that  the 
patient  was  a  son  of  Leather-Stocking:  it  is  news  to  me  to 
hear  that  Natty  had  a  wife." 

"  It  is  by  no  means  a  necessary  consequence,"  returned 
the  other,  winking,  with  a  shrewd  look  around  the  bar- 
room ;  "  there  is  such  a  thing,  I  suppose  you  know,  in  law 
as  a  '  filius  nullius.'  " 

"  Spake  it  out,  man,"  exclaimed  the  landlady ;  "  spake  it 
out  in  king's  English ;  what  for  should  ye  be  talking  Indian 
in  a  room  full  of  Christian  folks,  though  it  is  about  a  poor 
hunter,  who  is  but  a  little  better  in  his  ways  than  the  wild 
savages  themselves  ?  Och !  it's  to  be  hoped  that  the  mis- 
sionaries will  in  his  own  time,  make  a  convarsion  of  the 


138 


THE  PIONEERS. 


poor  divils;  and  then  it  will  matter  little  of  what  color  is 
the  skin,  or  wedder  there  be  wool  or  hair  on  the  head/' 

"0!  it  is  Latin,  not  Indian,  Miss  Hollister,"  returned 
the  lawyer,  repeating  his  winks  and  shrewd  looks;  "and 
Dr.  Todd  understands  Latin,  or  how  would  he  read  the 
labels  on  his  gallipots  and  drawers  ?  No,  no,  Miss  Hollister, 
the  Doctor  understands  me ;  don't  you,  Doctor  ?  " 

"  Hem — why,  I  guess  I  am  not  far  out  of  the  way,"  re- 
turned Elnathan,  endeavoring  to  imitate  the  expression  of 
the  other's  countenance,  by  looking  jocular.  "  Latin  is  a 
queer  language,  gentlemen;  now  I  rather  guess  there  is  no 
one  in  the  room  except  Squire  Lippet,  who  can  believe  that 
'  Far.  Av/  means  oatmeal,  in  English." 

The  lawyer  in  his  turn  was  a  good  deal  embarrassed  by 
this  display  of  learning;  for,  although  he  actually  had 
taken  his  first  degree  at  one  of  the  eastern  universities,  he 
was  somewhat  puzzled  with  the  terms  used  by  his  com- 
panion. It  was  dangerous,  however,  to  appear  to  be  out- 
done in  learning  in  a  public  bar-room,  and  before  so  many 
of  his  clients;  he  therefore  put  the  best  face  on  the 
matter,  and  laughed  knowingly,  as  if  there  were  a  good 
joke  concealed  under  it,  that  was  understood  only  by  the 
physician  and  himself.  All  this  was  attentively  observed 
by  the  listeners,  who  exchanged  looks  of  approbation :  and 
the  expressions  of  "  tonguey  man,"  and  "  I  guess  Squire 
Lippet  knows,  if  anybody  doos,"  were  heard  in  different 
parts  of  the  room,  as  vouchers  for  the  admiration  of  his 
auditors.  Thus  encouraged,  the  lawyer  rose  from  his 
chair,  and  turning  his  back  to  the  fire,  and  facing  the 
company,  he  continued, — 

"  The  son  of  Natty,  or  the  son  of  nobody,  I  hope  the 
young  man  is  not  going  to  let  the  matter  drop.  This  is  a 
country  of  laws;  and  I  should  like  to  see  it  fairly  tried, 
whether  a  man  who  owns,  or  says  he  owns,  a  hundred 
thousand  acres  of  land,  has  anv  more  right  to  shoot  a  body 
than  another.    What  do  you  think  of  it,  Dr.  Todd  ?  " 

"  0 !  sir,  I  am  of  opinion  that  the  gentleman  will  soon 
be  well,  as  I  said  before;  the  wound  isn't  in  a  vital  part; 
and  as  the  ball  was  extracted  so  soon,  and  the  shoulder 
was  what  I  call  well  attended  to,  I  do  not  think  there  is  as 
much  danger  as  there  might  have  been." 

"I  say,  Squire  Doolittle,"  continued  the  attorney,  raising 
his  voice,  "you  are  a  magistrate,  and  know  what  is  law, 
and  what  is  not  law.    I  ask  you,  sir,  if  shooting  a  man  is  a 


THE  PIONEERS. 


'39 


thing  that  is  to  be  settled  so  very  easily  ?  Suppose,  sir, 
that  the  young  man  had  a  wife  and  family;  and  suppose 
that  lie  was  a  mechanic  like  yourself,  sir;  and  suppose  that 
his  family  depended  on  him  for  bread;  and  suppose  that 
the  ball,  instead  of  merely  going  through  the  flesh,  had 
broken  the  shoulder-blade,.and  crippled  him  forever;  I  ask 
you  all,  gentlemen,  supposing  this  to  be  the  case,  whether 
a  jury  wouldn't  give  what  I  call  handsome  damages  ?" 

As  the  close  of  this  supposititious  case  was  addressed 
to  the  company  generally,  Hiram  did  not,  at  first,  consider 
himself  called  on  for  a  reply;  but  finding  the  eyes  of  the 
listeners  bent  on  him  in  expectation,  he  remembered  his 
character  for  judicial  discrimination,  and  spoke,  observing 
a  due  degree  of  deliberation  and  dignity. 

"Why,  if  a  man  should  shoot  another,"  he  said,  "and  if 
he  should  do  it  on  purpose,  and  if  the  law  took  notice  on't, 
and  if  a  jury  should  find  him  guilty,  it  would  be  likely  to 
turn  out  a  State-prison  matter." 

"It  would  so,  sir,"  returned  the  attorney.  "The  law 
gentlemen,  is  no  respecter  of  persons  in  a  free  country.  It 
is  one  of  the  great  blessings  that  has  been  handed  down 
to  us  from  our  ancestors,  that  all  men  are  equal  in  the  eye 
of  the  law  as  they  are  by  natur\  Though  some  may  get 
property,  no  one  knows  Low,  yet  they  are  not  privileged  to 
transgress  the  laws  any  more  than  the  poorest  citizen  in 
the  State.  This  is  my  notion,  gentlemen;  and  I  think 
that  if  a  man  had  a  mind  to  bring  this  matter  up,  some- 
thing might  be  made  out  of  it  that  would  hero  pay  for 
the  salve— ha!  Doctor?"  x 

"  Why,  sir,"  returned  the  physician,  who  appeared  a  little 
uneasy  at  the  turn  the  conversation  was  taking,  "  I  have 
the  promise  of  Judge  Temple  before  men— not  but  what  I 
would  take  his  word  as  soon  as  his  note  of  hand— but  it 
was  before  men.  Let  me  see— there  was  Mounshier  Ler 
Quow,  and  Squire  Jones,  and  Major  Hartmann,  and  Miss 
Pettibone,  and  one  or  two  of  the  blacks  by,  when  he  said 
that  his  pocket  would  amply  reward  me  for  what  I  did." 

"  Was  the  promise  made  before  or  after  the  service  was 
performed  ?  "  asked  the  attorney. 

.  might  have  been  both,"  returned  the  discreet  physi- 
cian; "though  Fm  certain  he  said  so  before  I  undertook 
the  dressing." 

"  But  it  seems  that  he  said  his  pocket  should  reward 
you,  Doctor,"  observed  Hiram.    «  Now,  I  don't  know  that 


140 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  law  will  hold  a  man  to  such  a  promise ;  he  might  give 
you  his  pocket  with  sixpence  in't,  and  tell  you  to  take 
your  pay  out  on't." 

"  That  would  not  be  a  reward  in  the  eye  of  the  law," 
interrupted  the  attorney,  "  not  what  is  called  a  '  quid  pro 
quo;'  nor  is  the  pocket  to  be  considered  as  an  agent,  but 
as  part  of  a  man's  own  person,  that  is,  in  this  particular. 
I  am  of  opinion  that  an  action  would  lie  on  that  promise, 
and  I  will  undertake  to  bear  him  out,  free  of  costs,  if  he 
don't  recover." 

To  this  proposition  the  physician  made  no  reply ;  but 
he  was  observed  to  cast  his  eyes  around  him,  as  if  to 
r  enumerate  the  witnesses,  in  order  to  substantiate  this 
promise  also,  at  a  future  day,  should  it  prove  necessary. 
A  subject  so  momentous  as  that  of  suing  Judge  Temple 
was  not  very  palatable  to  the  present  company  in  so  public 
a  place;  and  a  short  silence  ensued,  that  was  only  inter- 
rupted by  the  opening  of  the  door,  and  the  entrance  of 
Natty  himself. 

The  old  hunter  carried  in  his  hand  his  never-failing 
companion,  the  rifle;  and  although  all  the  company  were 
uncovered  excepting  the  lawyer,  who  wore  his  hat  on  one 
side,  with  a  certain  dam'me  air,  Natty  moved  to  the  front 
of  one  of  the  fires,  without  in  the  least  altering  any  part 
of  his  dress  or  appearance.  Several  questions  were  ad- 
dressed to  him,  on  the  subject  of  the  game  he  had  killed, 
which  he  answered  readily,  and  with  some  little  interest ; 
and  the  landlord,  between  whom  and  Natty  there  existed 
much  cordiality,  on  account  of  their  both  having  been 
soldiers  in  youth,  offered  him  a  glass  of  a  liquid,  which,  if 
we  might  judge  from  its  reception,  was  no  unwelcome 
guest.  When  the  forester  had  got  his  potation  also,  he 
quietly  took  his  seat  on  the  end  of  one  of  the  logs  that  lay 
nigh  the  fires,  and  the  slight  interruption  produced  by 
his  entrance  seemed  to  be  forgotten. 

"  The  testimony  of  the  blacks  could  not  be  taken,  sir," 
continued  the  lawyer,  "  for  they  are  all  the  property  of  Mr. 
Jones,  who  owns  their  time.  But  there  is  a  way  by  which 
Judge  Temple,  or  any  other  man,  might  be  made  to  pay 
for  shooting  another,  and  for  the  cure  in  the  bargain. 
There  is  a  way,  I  say,  and  that  without  going  into  the 
-  '  court  of  errors/  too." 

"And  a  mighty  big  error  ye  would  maKe  of  it,  Mister 
Todd,"  cried  the  landlady,  "  should  ye  be  putting  the  matter 


THE  PIONEERS. 


141 


into  the  law  at  all,  with  Jooge  Temple,  who  has  a  purse  as 
long  as  one  of  them  pines  on  the  hill,  and  who  is  an  'asy 
man  to  dale  wid,  if  yees  but  mind  the  humor  of  him. 
He's  a  good  man,  is  Jooge  Temple,  and  a  kind  one,  and 
one  who  will  be  no  the  likelier  to  do  the  pratty  thing,  be- 
c'ase  ye  would  wish  to  tarrify  him  wid  the  law.  I  know 
of  but  one  objaction  to  the  same,  which  is  an  over  care- 
lessness about  his  sowl.  It's  neither  a  Methodic,  nor  a 
Papish,  nor  Prasbetyrian,  that  he  is,  but  just  nothing  at 
all;  and  it's  hard  to  think  that  he,  'who  will  not  fight  the 
good  fight,  under  the  banners  of  a  rig'lar  Church,  in  this 
world,  will  be  mustered  among  the  chosen  in  heaven/  as 
my  husband,  the  Captain  there,  as  ye  call  him,  says — 
though  there  is  but  one  captain  that  I  know,  who  desaarves 
the  name.  I  hopes,  La'ther-Stocking,  ye'll  no  be  foolish, 
and  putting  the  boy  up  to  try  the  law  in  the  matter;  for 
'twill  be  an  evil  day  to  ye  both,  when  ye  first  turn  the  skin 
of  so  p'aceable  an  animal  as  a  sheep  into  a  bone  of  conten- 
tion. The  lad  is  wilcome  to  his  drink  for  nothing,  until 
his  shoulther  will  bear  the  rifle  ag'in." 

"  Well,  that's  gin'rous,"  was  heard  from  several  mouths 
at  once,  for  this  was  a  company  in  which  a  liberal  offer 
was  not  thrown  away;  while  the  hunter,  instead  of  ex- 
pressing any  of  that  indignation  which  he  might  be  sup- 
posed to  feel,  at  hearing  the  hurt  of  his  young  companion 
alluded  to,  opened  his  mouth,  with  the  silent  laugh  for 
which  he  was  so  remarkable ;  and,  after  he  had  indulged 
his  humor,  made  this  reply: — 

"  I  knowed  the  Judge  would  do  nothing  with  his  smooth- 
bore when  he  got  out  of  his  sleigh.  I  never  saw  but  one 
smooth-bore  that  would  carry  at  all,  and  that  was  a  French 
ducking-piece,  upon  the  big  lakes :  it  had  a  barrel  half  as 
long  ag'in  as  my  rifle,  and  would  throw  fine  shot  into  a 
goose,  at  a  hundred  yards;  but  it  made  dreadful  work 
with  the  game,  and  you  wanted  a  boat  to  carry  it  about  in. 
When  I  went  with  Sir  William  ag'in  the  French,  at  Fort 
Niagara,  all  the  rangers  used  the  rifle;  and  a  dreadful 
weapon  it  is,  in  the  hands  of  one  who  knows  how  to  charge 
it,  and  keep  a  steady  aim.  The  Captain  knows,  for  he  says 
he  was  a  soldier  in  Shirley's ;  and  though  they  were  nothing 
but  baggonet-men,  he  must  know  how  we  cut  up  the 
French  and  Iroquois  in  the  skrimmages  in  that  war. 
Chingachgook,  which  means  'Big  Sarpent'  in  English, old 
John  Mohegan,  who  lives  up  at  the  hut  with  me,  was  a 


142 


THE  PIONEERS. 


great  warrior  then,  and  was  out  with  us;  he  can  tell  all 
about  it,  too;  though  he  was  an  overhand  for  the  toma- 
hawk, never  firing  more  than  once  or  twice,  before  he  was 
running  in  for  the  scalps.  Ah!  times  is  dreadfully  altered 
since  then.  Why,  Doctor,  there  was  nothing  but  a  foot- 
path, or  at  the  most  a  track  for  pack-horses,  along  the 
Mohawk,  from  the  Garman  Flats  up  to  the  forts.  Now, 
they  say,  they  talk  of  running  one  of  them  wide  roads 
with  gates  on  it  along  the  river;  first  making  a  road,  and 
then  fencing  it  up!  I  hunted  one  season  back  of  the 
Kaatskills,  nigh-hand  to  the  settlements,  and  the  dogs 
often  lost  the  scent,  when  they  came  to  them  highways, 
there  was  so  much  travel  on  them ;  though  I  can't  say  that 
the  brutes  was  of  a  very  good  breed.  Old  Hector  will 
wind  a  deer  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  across  the  broadest 
place  in  the  Otsego,  and  that  is  a  mile  and  a  half,  for  I 
paced  it  myself  on  the  ice  when  the  track  was  first  sur- 
veyed, under  the  Indian  grant." 

"  It  sames  to  me,  Natty,  but  a  sorry  compliment,  to  call 
your  comrad  after  the  Evil  One,"  said  the  landlady ;  "  and 
it's  no  much  like  a  snake  that  old  John  is  looking  now. 
Nimrod  would  be  a  more  besameing  name  for  the  lad,  and 
a  more  Christian,  too,  seeing  that  it  comes  from  the  Bible. 
The  sargeant  read  me  the  chapter  about  him,  the  night 
before  my  christening,  and  a  mighty  'asement  it  was,  to 
listen  to  anything  from  the  Book." 

"  Old  John  and  Chingachgook  were  very  different  men 
to  look  on,"  returned  the  hunter,  shaking  his  head  at  his 
melancholy  recollections.  "  In  the  '  fifty-eight  war '  he  was 
in  the  middle  of  manhood,  and  taller  than  now  by  three 
inches.  If  you  had  seen  him,  as  I  did,  the  morning  we 
beat  Dieskau,  from  behind  our  log  walls,  you  would  have 
called  him  as  comely  a  red-skin  as  ye  ever  set  eyes  on. 
He  was  naked  all  to  his  breech-cloth  and  leggings;  and 
you  never  seed  a  creatur'  so  handsomely  painted.  One 
side  of  his  face  was  red,  and  the  other  black.  His  head  was 
shaved  clean,  all  to  a  few  hairs  on  the  crown,  where  he 
wore  a  tuft  of  eagle's  feathers,  as  bright  as  if  they  had 
come  from  a  peacock's  tail.  He  had  colored  his  sides  so 
that  they  looked  like  an  atomy,  ribs  and  all  ;  for  Chingach- 
gook had  a  great  taste  in  such  things;  so  that,  what  with 
his  bold,  fiery  countenance,  his  knife,  and  his  tomahawk, 
I  have  never  seen  a  fiercer  warrior  on  the  ground.  He 
played  his  part,  too,  like  a  man;  for  I  saw  him  next  day, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


>43 


with  thirteen  scalps  on  his  pole.  And  I  will  say  this  for 
the  '  Big  Snake/  that  he  always  dealt  fair,  and  never  scalped 
any  that  he  didn't  kill  with  his  own  hands." 

" Well,  well,"  cried  the  landlady;  "fighting  is  fighting, 
anyway,  and  there  is  different  fashions  in  the  thing; 
though  I  can't  say  that  I  relish  mangling  a  body  after  the 
breath  is  out  of  it;  neither  do  I  think  it  can  be  uphild  by 
doctrine.  I  hope,  sargefmt,  ye  niver  was  helping  in  such 
evil  worrek." 

"  It  was  my  duty  to  keep  my  ranks,  and  to  stand  or  fall 
by  the  baggonet  or  lead,"  returned  the  veteran.  "  I  was 
then  in  the  fort,  and  seldom  leaving  my  place,  saw  but 
little  of  the  savages,  who  kept  on  the  flanks  or  in  front 
skrimmaging.  I  remember,  howsomever,  to  have  heard 
mention  made  of  the  Great  Snake,  as  he  was  called,  for  he 
was  a  chief  of  renown;  but  little  did  I  ever  expect  to  see 
him  enlisted  in  the  cause  of  Christianity,  and  civilized  like 
old  John." 

"0!  he  was  Christianized  by  the  Moravians,  who  were 
always  over  intimate  with  the  Delawares,"  said  Leather- 
Stocking.  " Its  my  opmion  that,  had  they  been  left  to 
themselves,  there  would  be  no  such  doings  now,  about  the 
head  waters  of  the  two  rivers,  and  that  these  hills  mought 
have  been  kept  as  good  hunting-ground  by  their  right 
owner,  who  is  not  too  old  to  carry  a  rifle,  and  whose  sight 
is  as  true  as  a  fish -hawk  hovering" — 

He  was  interrupted  by  more  stamping  at  the  door,  and 
presently  the  party  from  the  Mansion-house  entered,  fol- 
lowed by  the  Indian  himself. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

There's  quart-pot,  pint-pot,  half-pint, 
Gill-pot,  half -gill,  nipperkin, 

And  the  brown  bowl — 
Here's  a  health  to  the  barley  mow. 

My  brave  boys, 
Here's  a  health  to  the  barley  mow. 

Drinking  Song. 

Some  little  commotion  was  produced  by  the  appearance 
of  the  new  guests,  during  which  the  lawyer  slunk  from 
the  room.  Most  of  the  men  approached  Marmaduke,  and 
shook  his  offered  hand,  hoping  "  that  the  Judge  was  well; " 


144 


THE  PIONEERS. 


while  Major  Hartmann,  having  laid  aside  his  hat  and  wig, 
and  substituted  for  the  latter  a  warm,  peaked  woolen 
night-cap,  took  his  seat  very  quietly  on  one  end  of  the 
settee,  which  was  relinquished  by  its  former  occupants. 
His  tobacco-box  was  next  produced,  and  a  clean  pipe  was 
handed  him  by  the  landlord.  When  he  had  succeeded  in 
raising  a  smoke,  the  Major  gave  a  long  whiff,  and  turning 
his  head  towards  the  bar,  he  said, 
"  Petty,  pring  in  ter  toddy." 

In  the  mean  time  the  Judge  had  exchanged  his  saluta- 
tions with  most  of  the  company,  and  taken  a  place  by  the 
side  of  the  Major,  and  Richard  had  bustled  himself  into 
the  most  comfortable  seat  in  the  room.  Mr.  Le  Quoi  was 
the  last  seated,  nor  did  he  venture  to  place  his  chair  finally, 
until  by  frequent  removals,  he  had  ascertained  that  he 
could  not  possibly  intercept  a  ray  of  heat  from  any  indi- 
vidual present.  Mohegan  found  a  place  on  an  end  of  one 
of  the  benches,  and  somewhat  approximated  to  the  bar. 
When  these  movements  had  subsided,  the  Judge  remarked 
pleasantly, — 

"  Well,  Betty,  I  find  you  retain  your  popularity  through 
all  weathers,  against  all  rivals,  and  among  all  religions. 
How  liked  you  the  sermon  ?  " 

"  Is  it  the  sarmon  ?  "  exclaimed  the  landlady.  "  I  can't 
say  but  it  was  r'asonable;  but  the  prayers  is  mighty 
un'asy.  It's  no  small  matter  for  a  body  in  their  fifty-nint' 
year,  to  be  moving  so  much  in  church.  Mr.  Grant  sames 
a  godly  man  any  way,  and  his  garrel  is  a  hoomble  one,  and 
a  devout.  Here,  John,  is  a  mug  of  cider,  laced  with 
whiskey.  An  Indian  will  drink  cider,  though  he  niver  be 
athirst." 

"  I  must  say,"  observed  Hiram,  with  due  deliberation, 
"that  it  was  a  tonguey  thing;  and  I  rather  guess  that  it 
gave  considerable  satisfaction.  There  was  one  part, 
though,  which  might  have  been  left  out,  or  something  else 
put  in;  but  then  I  s'pose  that,  as  it  was  a  written  dis- 
course, it  is  not  so  easily  altered  as  where  a  minister 
preaches  without  notes." 

"Aye,  there's  the  rub,  Jooge,"  cried  the  landlady. 
"How  can  a  man  stand  up  and  be  pr'aching  his  word, 
when  all  that  he  is  saying  is  written  down,  and  he  is  as 
much  tied  to  it  as  iver  a  thaving  dragoon  was  to  the  pick- 
ets?" 

"  Well,  well,"  cried  Marmaduke,  waving  his  hand  for 


THE  PIONEERS  t45 

silence,  "  there  is  enough  said ;  as  Mr.  Grant  told  us,  there 
are  different  sentiments  on  such  subjects,  and  in  my  opin- 
ion he  spoke  most  sensibly.  So,  Jotham,  I  am  told  you 
have  sold  your  betterments  to  a  new  settler,  and  have 
moved  into  the  village  and  opened  a  school.  Was  it  cash 
or  dicker  ?  " 

The  man  who  was  thus  addressed  occupied  a  seat  imme- 
diately behind  Marmaduke;  and  one  who  was  ignorant  of 
the  extent  of  the  Judge's  observation,  might  have  thought 
he  would  have  escaped  notice.  He  was  of  a  thin,  shape- 
less figure,  with  a  discontented  expression  of  countenance, 
and  with  something  extremely  shiftless  in  his  whole  air. 
Thus  spoken  to,  after  turning  and  twisting  a  little,  by  way 
of  preparation,  he  made  a  reply. 

"Why,  part  cash,  and  part  dicker.  I  sold  out  to  a 
Pumfret  man  who  was  so'thin  forehanded.  He  was  to  give 
me  ten  dollars  an  acre  for  the  clearin',  and  one  dollar  an 
acre  over  the  first  cost,  on  the  woodland;  and  we  agreed  to 
leave  the  buildin's  to  men.  So  I  tuck  Asa  Montagu,  and 
he  tuck  Absalom  Bement,  and  they  two  tuck  old  Squire 
Napthali  Green.  And  so  they  had  a  meeting  and  made 
out  a  vardict  of  eighty  dollars  for  the  buildin's.  There 
was  twelve  acres  of  clearin*,  at  ten  dollars,  and  eighty- 
eight  at  one,  and  the  hull  came  to  two  hundred  and  eighty- 
six  dollars  and  a  half,  after  paying  the  men/' 

"Hum,"  said  Marmaduke:  "what  did  you  give  for  the 
place  ?" 

"  Why,  besides  what's  comnV  to  the  Judge,  I  gi'n  my 
brother  Tim  a  hundred  dollars  for  his  bargain;  but  then 
there's  a  new  house  on't,  that  cost  me  sixty  more,  and  I 
paid  Moses  a  hundred  dollars,  for  choppin',  and  loggin', 
and  sowm';  so  that  the  hull  stood  me  in  about  two  hun- 
dred and  sixty  dollars.  But  then  I  had  a  great  crop  off 
on't,  and  as  I  got  twenty-six  dollars  and  a  half  more  than 
it  cost,  I  conclude  I  made  a  pretty  good  trade  on't.'' 

"Yes,  but  you  forgot  that  the  crop  was  yours  without 
the  trade,  and  you  have  turned  yourself  out  of  doors  for 
twenty-six  dollars." 

"0!  the  Judge  is  clean  out,"  said  the  man,  with  a  look 
of  sagacious  calculation;  "he  turned  out  a  span  of  horses, 
that  is  wuth  a  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  of  any  man's 
money,  with  a  bran  new  wagon;  fifty  dollars  in  cash;  and 
a  good  note  for  eighty  more;  and  a  side-saddle  that  was 
valued  at  seven  and  a  half— so  there  was  jist  twelve  shil- 


146 


THE  PIONEERS. 


lings  betwixt  us.  I  wanted  him  to  turn  out  a  set  of  har- 
ness, and  take  the  cow  and  the  sap-troughs.  He  wouldn't 
—but  I  saw  through  it;  he  thought  I  should  have  to  buy 
the  tacklin'  afore  I  could  use  the  wagon  and  horses ;  but 
I  knowed  a  thing  or  two  myself;  I  should  like  to  know  of 
what  use  is  the  tacklin'  to  him !  I  offered  him  to  trade 
back  ag'in,  for  one  hundred- and  fifty-five.  But  my  woman 
said  she  wanted  a  churn,  so  I  tuck  a  churn  for  the  change." 

"And  what  do  you  mean  to  do  with  your  time  this  win- 
ter ?  you  must  remember  that  time  is  money." 

"  Why,  as  the  master  is  gone  down  country,  to  see  his 
mother,  who,  they  say,  is  going  to  make  a  die  on't,  I  agreed 
to  take  the  school  in  hand  till  he  comes  back.  If  times 
doosn't  get  worse  in  the  spring,  I've  some  notion  of  going 
into  trade,  or  maybe  I  may  move  off  to  the  Genesee ;  they 
say  they  are  carryin'  on  a  great  stroke  of  business  that- 
away.  If  the  wust  comes  to  the  wust,  I  can  but  work  at 
my  trade,  for  I  was  brought  up  in  a  shoe  manufactory." 

It  would  seem  that  Marmaduke  did  not  think  his  society 
of  sufficient  value  to  attempt  inducing  him  to  remain 
where  he  was;  for  he  addressed  no  further  discourse  to  the 
man,  but  turned  his  attention  to  other  subjects.  After  a 
short  pause,  Hiram  ventured  a  question : — 

"  What  news  does  the  Judge  bring  us  from  the  legisla- 
ture ?  it's  not  likely  that  Congress  has  done  much  this 
session :  or  maybe  the  French  haven't  fit  any  more  battles 
lately?" 

"  The  French,  since  they  have  beheaded  their  king,  have 
done  nothing  but  fight,"  returned  the  Judge.  "The 
character  of  the  nation  seems  changed.  I  knew  many 
French  gentlemen,  during  our  war,  and  they  all  appeared 
to  me  to  be  men  of  great  humanity  and  goodness  of  heart; 
-but  these  Jacobins  are  as  bloodthirsty  as  bull-dogs." 

"  There  was  one  Roshambow  wid  us,  down  at  Yorek- 
town,"  cried  the  landlady;  "a  mighty  prafcty  man  he  was, 
too;  and  their  horse  was  the  very  same.  It  was  there  that 
the  sargeant  got  the  hurt  in  the  leg,  from  the  English 
batteries,  bad  luck  to  'em." 

"Ah!  mon  pauvre  roi!"  murmured  Monsieur  Le  Quoi. 

"The  legislature  have  been  passing  laws,"  continued 
Marmaduke,  "that  the  country  much  required.  Among 
others,  there  is  an  act  prohibiting  the  drawing  of  seines, 
at  any  other  than  proper  seasons,  in  certain  of  our  streams 
and  small  lakes;  and  another,  to  prohibit  the  killing  of 


THE  PIONEERS. 


147 


deer  in  the  teeming  months.  These  are  laws  that  were 
loudly  called  for,  by  judicious  men;  nor  do  I  despair  of 
getting  an  act  to  make  the  unlawful  felling  of  timber  a 
criminal  offense." 

.  The  hunter  listened  to  this  detail  with  breathless  atten- 
tion, and  when  the  Judge  had  ended,  he  laughed  in  open 
derision. 

"  You  may  make  your  laws,  Judge,"  he  cried,  "  but  who 
will  you  find  to  watch  the  mountains  through  the  long 
summer  days,  or  the  lakes  at  night  ?  Game  is  game,  and 
he  who  finds  may  kill;  that  has  been  the  law  in  these 
mountains  for  forty  years,  to  my  sartain  knowledge;  and 
I  think  one  old  law  is  worth  two  new  ones.  None  but  a 
green-one  would  wish  to  kill  a  doe  with  a  fa'an  by  its  side, 
unless  his  moccasins  were  getting  old,  or  his  leggings  rag- 
ged, for  the  flesh  is  lean  and  coarse.  But  a  rifle  rings 
among  the  rocks  along  the  lake  shore,  sometimes,  as  if 
fifty  pieces  were  fired  at  once :  it  would  be  hard  to  tell 
where  the  man  stood  who  pulled  the  trigger." 

"Armed  with  the  dignity  of  the  law,  Mr.  Bumppo,"  re- 
turned the  Judge,  gravely,  "a  vigilant  magistrate  can  pre- 
vent much  of  the  evil  that  has  hitherto  prevailed,  and 
which  is  already  rendering  the  game  scarce.  I  hope  to  live 
to  see  the  day  when  a  man's  rights  in  his  game  shall  be 
as  much  respected  as  his  title  to  his  farm." 

"  Your  titles  and  your  farms  are  all  new  together,"  cried 
Natty;  "but  laws  should  be  equal,  and  not  more  for  one 
than  another.  I  shot  a  deer,  last  Wednesday  was  a  fort- 
night, and  it  floundered  through  the  snow-banks  till  it  got 
over  a  brush  fence;  I  catched  the  lock  of  my  rifle  in  the 
twigs  in  following,  and  was  kept  back,  until  finally  the 
creatur'  got  off.  Now,  I  want  to  know  who  is  to  pay  me 
for  that  deer  ?  and  a  fine  buck  it  was.  If  there  hadn't 
been  a  fence  I  should  have  gotten  another  shot  into  it; 
and  I  never  drawed  upon  anything  that  hadn't  wings  three 
times  running,  in  my  born  days.  No,  no,  Judge,  it's  the 
farmers  that  makes  the  game  scarce,  and  not  the  hunters." 

"  Ter  teer  is  not  so  plenty  as  in  ter  old  war,  Pumppo," 
said  the  Major,  who  had  been  an  attentive  listener,  amidst 
clouds  of  smoke;  "put  ter  lant  is  not  mate  as  for  ter  teer 
to  live  on,  put  for  Christians." 

"  Why,  Major,  I  believe  you're  a  friend  to  justice  and 
the  right,  though  you  go  so  often  to  the  grand  house;  but 
it's  a  hard  case  to  a  man  to  have  his  honest  calling  for  a 


H8 


THE  PIONEERS. 


livelihood  stopped  by  laws,  and  that  too  when,  if  right  was 
done,  he  mought  hunt  or  fish  on  any  day  in  the  week,  or 
on  the  best  flat  in  the  Patent,  if  he  was  so  minded." 

"  I  unterstant  you,  Letter-Stockint,"  returned  the  Major, 
fixing  his  black  eyes,  with  a  look  of  peculiar  meaning,  on 
the  hunter;  "put  you  didn't  use  to  be  so  prutent,  as  to 
look  ahet  mit  so  much  care." 

"  Maybe  there  wasn't  so  much  occasion,"  said  the  hunter 
a  little  sulkily;  when  he  sank  into  a  silence  from  which  he 
was  not  roused  for  some  time. 

"The  Judge  was  saying  so'thin  about  the  French," 
Hiram  observed,  when  the  pause  in  the  conversation  had 
continued  a  decent  time. 

"Yes,  sir,"  returned  Marmaduke,  "the  Jacobins  of 
France  seem  rushing  from  one  act  of  licentiousness  to 
another.  They  continue  those  murders  which  are  dignified 
by  the  name  of  executions.  You  have  heard  that  they 
have  added  the  death  of  their  queen  to  the  long  list  of 
their  crimes." 

"  Les  monstres !  "  again  murmured  Monsieur  Le  Quoi, 
turning  himself  suddenly  in  his  chair,  with  a  convulsive 
start. 

"  The  province  of  La  Vendee  is  laid  waste  by  the  troops 
of  the  republic,  and  hundreds  of  its  inhabitants,  who  are 
royalists  in  their  sentiments,  are  shot  at  a  time.  La  Ven- 
dee is  a  district  in  the  southwest  of  France  that  continues 
yet  much  attached  to  the  family  of  the  Bourbons;  doubt- 
less Monsieur  Le  Quoi  is  acquainted  with  it,  and  can 
describe  it  more  faithfully." 

"  Non,  non,  non,  mon  cher  ami,"  returned  the  French- 
man, in  a  suppressed  voice,  but  speaking  rapidly,  and 
gesticulating  with  his  right  hand,  as  if  for  mercy,  while 
with  his  left  he  concealed  his  eyes. 

"There  have  been  many  battles  fought  lately,"  con- 
tinued Marmaduke,  "  and  the  infuriated  republicans  are 
too  often  victorious.  I  cannot  say,  however,  that  I  am 
sorry  they  have  captured  Toulon  from  the  English,  for  it 
is  a  place  to  which  they  have  a  just  right." 

"Ah — ha!"  exclaimed  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  springing  on 
his  feet,  and  flourishing  both  arms  with  great  animation, 
"  ces  Anglais !  " 

The  Frenchman  continued  to  move  about  the  room  with 
great  alacrity  for  a  few  minutes,  repeating  his  exclama- 
tions to  himself;  when,  overcome  by  the  contradictory 


THE  PIONEERS. 


T49 


nature  of  his  emotions,  he  suddenly  burst  out  of  the  house, 
and  was  seen  wading  through  the  snow  towards  his  little 
shop,  waving  his  arms  on  high,  as  if  to  pluck  down  honor 
from  the  moon.  His  departure  excited  but  little  surprise, 
for  the  villagers  were  used  to  his  manner;  but  Major 
Hartmann  laughed  outright,  for  the  first  time  during  his 
visit,  as  he  lifted  the  mug,  and  observed, — 

« rper  Frenchman  is  mat — put  he  is  goot  as  for  notting 
to  trink;  he  is  trunk  mit  joy/' 

"The  French  are  good  soldiers, "  said  Captain  Hollister; 
"  they  stood  us  in  hand  a  good  turn,  down  at  Yorktown ; 
nor  do  I  think,  although  I  am  an  ignorant  man  about  the 
great  movements  of  the  army,  that  his  Excellency  would 
have  been  able  to  march  against  Cornwallis,  without  their 
reinforcements." 

"Ye  spake  the  trut',  sargeant,"  interrupted  his  wife, 
"  and  I  would  iver  have  ye  be  doing  the  same.  It's  varry 
pratty  men  is  the  French;  and  jist  when  I  stopt  the  cart, 
the  time  when  ye  was  pushing  on  in  front  it  was,  to  kape 
the  rig'lers  in,  a  rigiment  of  the  jontlemen  marched  by, 
and  so  I  dealt  them  out  to  their  liking.  Was  it  pay  I  got  ? 
sure  did  I,  and  in  good  solid  crowns :  the  divil  a  bit  of 
continental  could  they  muster  among  them  all,  for  love 
nor  money.  Och !  the  Lord  forgive  me  for  swearing  and 
sp'aking  of  such  vanities :  but  this  I  will  say  for  the  French, 
that  they  paid  in  good  silver;  and  one  glass  would  go  a 
great  way  wid  'em,  for  they  gin'rally  handed  it  back  wid  a 
drop  in  the  cup;  and  that's  a  brisk  trade,  Jooge,  where 
the  pay  is  good,  and  the  men  not  over  particular." 

"A  thriving  trade,  Mrs.  Hollister,"  said  Marmaduke. 
"  But  what  has  become  of  Eichard  ?  he  jumped  up  as  soon 
as  seated,  and  has  been  absent  so  long  that  I  am  fearful  he 
has  frozen."  v 

"  No  fear  of  that,  cousin  'Duke,"  cried  the  gentleman 
himself;  "business  will  sometimes  keep  a  man  warm  the 
coldest  night  that  ever  snapt  in  the  monntains.  Betty, 
your  husband  told  me,  as  we  came  out  of  church,  that  yonr 
hogs  were  getting  mangy,  so  I  have  been  out  to  take  a  look 
at  them,  and  found  it  true.  I  stepped  across,  Doctor,  and 
got  your  boy  to  weigh  me  out  a  pound  of  salts,  and  have 
been  mixing  it  with  their  swill.  I'll  bet  a  saddle  of  veni- 
son against  a  gray  squirrel,  that  they  are  better  in  a  week. 
And  now,  Mrs.  Hollister,  I'm  ready  for  a  hissing  mug  of 


ISO 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  Sure  I  knowed  ye'd  be  wanting  that  same,"  said  the 
landlady;  "it's  mixt  and  ready  to  the  boiling.  Sargeant, 
dear,  be  handing  up  the  iron,  will  ye  ?  no,  the  one  in  the 
far  fire,  it's  black,  ye  will  see.  Ah!  you've  the  thing  now; 
look  if  it's  not  as  red  as  a  cherry." 

The  beverage  was  heated,  and  Richard  took  that  kind  of 
draught  which  men  are  apt  to  indulge  in,  who  think  that 
they  have  just  executed  a  clever  thing,  especially  when  they 
like  the  liquor. 

«  Oh !  you  have  a  hand,  Betty,  that  was  formed  to  mix 
flip/'  cried  Richard,  when  he  paused  for  breath.  "  The 
very  iron  has  a  flavor  in  it.  Here,  John,  drink,  man,  drink. 
I  and  you  and  Dr.  Todd  have  done  a  good  thing  with  the 
shoulder  of  that  lad  this  very  night.  'Duke,  I  made  a  song 
while  you  were  gone — one  day  when  I  had  nothing  to  do ; 
so  I'll  sing  you  a  verse  or  two,  though  I  haven't  really  de- 
termined on  the  tune  yet : — 


What  is  life  but  a  scene  of  care, 

Where  each  one  must  toil  in  his  way  ? 
Then  let  us  be  jolly,  and  prove  that  we  are 
A  set  of  good  fellows,  who  seem  very  rare, 
And  can  laugh  and  sing  all  the  day. 
Then  let  us  be  jolly. 
And  cast  away  folly, 
For  grief  turns  a  black  head  to  gray. 


There,  'Duke,  what  do  you  think  of  that  ?  There  is  an- 
other verse  of  it,  all  but  the  last  line.  I  haven't  got  a 
rhyme  for  the  last  line  yet.  Well,  old  John,  what  do  you 
think  of  the  music  ?  as  good  as  one  of  your  war-songs,  ha  ?  " 

"Good!"  said  Mohegan,  who  had  been  sharing  deeply 
in  the  potations  of  the  landlady,  besides  paying  a  proper 
respect  to  the-passing  mugs  of  the  Major  and  Marmaduke. 

"Pravo!  pravo!  Richart,"  cried  the  Major,  whose  black 
eyes  were  beginning  to  swim  in  moisture;  "pravissimo!  it 
is  a  goot  song;  put  Natty  Pumppo  hast  a  petter.  Letter- 
Stockint,  vilt  sing  ?  say,  olt  poy,  vilt  sing  ter  song,  as  apout 
ter  woots  ?  " 

"  No,  no,  Major,"  returned  the  hunter,  with  a  melancholy 
shake  of  the  head,  "I  have  lived  to  see  what  I  thought  eyes 
could  never  behold  in  these  hills,  and  I  have  no  heart  left 
-ifor  singing.  If  he,  that  has  a  right  to  be  master  and  ruier 
here,  is  forced  to  squinch  his  thirst,  when  a-dry,  with 
snow-water,  it  ill  becomes  them  that  have  lived  by  his 
bounty  to  be  making  merry,  as  if  there  was  nothing  in  the 
world  but  sunshine  and  summer." 


THE  PIONEERS. 


When  he  had  spoken,  Leather-Stocking  again  dropped 
his  head  on  his  knees,  and  concealed  his  hard  and  wrinkled 
features  with  his  hands.  The  change  from  the  excessive; 
cold  without,  to  the  heat  of  the  bar-room,  coupled  with 
the  depth  and  frequency  of  Richard's  draughts,  had  already 
levelled  whatever  inequality  there  might  have  existed  be- 
tween him  and  the  other  guests,  on  the  score  of  spirits; 
and  he  now  held  out  a  pair  of  swimming  mugs  of  foaming 
flip  towards  the  hunter,  as  he  cried — 

"  Merry !  aye !  Merry  Christmas  to  you,  old  boy !  Sun- 
shine and  summer!  no!  you  are  blind,  Leather-Stocking, 
'tis  moonshine  and  winter;  take  these  spectacles,  and  open 
your  eyes, — 

So  let  us  be  jolly, 
And  cast  away  folly, 
For  grief  turns  a  black  head  to  gray. 

"  Hear  how  old  J ohn  turns  his  quavers.  What  damned 
dull  music  an  Indian  song  is,  after  all,  Major!  I  wonder 
if  they  ever  sing  by  note." 

While  Eichard  was  singing  and  talking,  Mohegan  was 
uttering  dull,  monotonous  tones,  keeping  time  by  a  gentle 
motion  of  his  head  and  body.  He  made  use  of  but  few 
words,  and  such  as  he  did  utter  were  in  his  native  language, 
and  consequently  only  understood  by  himself  and  Natty. 
Without  heeding  Eichard  he  continued  to  sing  a  kind  of 
wild,  melancholy  air,  that  rose,  at  times,  in  sudden  and 
quite  elevated  notes,  and  then  fell  again  into  the  low,  qua- 
vering sounds  that  seemed  to  compose  the  character  of  his 
music. 

The  attention  of  the  company  was  now  much  divided, 
the  men  in  the  rear  having  formed  themselves  into  little 
groups,  where  they  were  discussing  various  matters ;  among 
the  principal  of  which  were,  the  treatment  of  mangy  hogs 
and  Parson  Grant's  preaching;  while  Dr.  Todd  was  en- 
deavoring to  explain  to  Marmaduke  the  nature  of  the  hurt 
received  by  the  young  hunter.  Mohegan  continued  to 
sing,  while  his  countenance  was  becoming  vacant,  though, 
coupled  with  his  thick  bushy  hair,  it  was  assuming  an  ex- 
pression very  much  like  brutal  ferocity.  His  notes  were 
gradually  growing  louder,  and  soon  rose  to  a  height  that 
caused  a  general  cessation  in  the  discourse.  The  hunter 
now  raised  his  head  again,  and  addressed  the  old  warrior, 
warmly,  in  the  Delaware  language,  which,  for  the  benefit 
of  our  readers,  we  shall  render  freely  into  English. 


152 


THE  PIONEERS. 


«  Why  do  you  sing  of  your  battles,  Chingachgook,  and 
of  the  warriors  you  have  slain,  when  the  worst  enemy  of 
all  is  near  you,  and  keeps  the  Young  Eagle  from  his  rights  ? 
I  have  fought  in  as  many  battles  as  any  warrior  in  your 
tribe,  but  cannot  boast  of  my  deeds  at  such  a  time  as  this." 

"  Hawkeye,"  said  the  Indian,  tottering  with  a  doubtful 
step  from  his  place,  "  I  am  the  Great  Snake  of  the  Dela- 
wares;  I  can  track  the  Mingos  like  an  adder  that  is  steal- 
ing on  the  whip-poor-will's  eggs,  and  strike  them  like  the 
rattlesnake,  dead  at  a  blow.  The  white  man  made  the 
tomahawk  of  Chingachgook  bright  as  the  waters  of  Otse- 
go, when  the  last  sun  is  shining;  but  it  is  red  with  the 
blood  of  the  Maquas." 

"And  why  have  you  slain  the  Mingo  warriors  ?  Was  it 
not  to  keep  these  hunting-grounds  and  lakes  to  your 
father's  children?  and  were  they  not  given  in  solemn 
council  to  the  Fire-eater  ?  and  does  not  the  blood  of  a  war- 
rior run  in  the  veins  of  a  young  chief,  who  should  speak 
aloud,  where  his  voice  is  now  too  low  to  be  heard." 

The  appeal  of  the  hunter  seemed  in  some  measure  to 
recall  the  confused  faculties  of  the  Indian,  who  turned  his 
face  towards  the  listeners  and  gazed  intently  on  the  Judge. 
He  shook  his  head,  throwing  his  hair  back  from  his  coun- 
tenance, and  exposed  eyes  that  were  glaring  with  an  ex- 
pression of  wild  resentment.  But  the  man  was  not  him- 
self. His  hand  seemed  to  make  a  fruitless  effort  to  release 
his  tomahawk,  which  was  confined  by  its  handle  to  his 
belt,  while  his  eyes  gradually  became  vacant.  Kichard  at 
that  instant  thrusting  a  mug  before  him,  his  features 
changed  to  the  grin  of  idiocy,  and  seizing  the  vessel  with 
both  hands,  he  sank  backward  on  the  bench  and  drank 
until  satiated,  when  he  made  an  effort  to  lay  aside  the  mug 
with  the  helplessness  of  total  inebriety. 

"  Shed  not  blood ! "  exclaimed  the  hunter,  as  he  watched 
the  countenance  of  the  Indian  in  its  moment  of  ferocity; 
"  but  he  is  drunk,  and  can  do  no  harm.  This  is  the  way 
with  all  the  savages;  give  them  liquor,  and  they  make  dogs 
of  themselves.  Well,  well,  the  time  will  come  when  right 
will  be  done ;  and  we  must  have  patience." 

Natty  still  spoke  in  the  Delaware  language,  and  of  course 
was  not  understood.  He  had  hardly  concluded,  before 
Kichard  cried, — 

"  Well,  old  John  is  soon  sewed  up.  Give  him  a  berth, 
Captain,  in  the  bam;  and  I  will  pay  for  it.    I  am  rich  to- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


153 


night,  ten  times  richer  than  'Duke,  with  all  his  lands,  and 
military  lots,  and  funded  debts,  and  bonds,  and  mortgages. 

Come,  let  us  be  jolly, 
And  cast  away  folly, 
For  grief— 

Drink,  King  Hiram — drink,  Mr.  Doo-nothing — drink, 
sir,  I  say.  This  is  a  Christmas  Eve,  which  comes,  you 
know,  but  once  a  year." 

"  He !  he !  he !  the  Squire  is  quite  moosical  to-night," 
said  Hiram,  whose  visage  began  to  give  marvelous  signs 
of  relaxation.  "  I  rather  guess  we  shall  make  a  church  on't 
yet,  Squire  ?  " 

"A  church,  Mr.  Doolittle !  we  will  make  a  cathedral  of 
it!  bishops,  priests,  deacons,  wardens,  vestry,  and  choir; 
organ,  organist,  and  bellows !  By  the  Lord  Harry,  as  Ben- 
jamin says,  we  will  clap  a  steeple  on  the  other  end  of  it, 
and  make  two  churches  of  it.  What  say  you,  'Duke,  will 
you  pay  ?  ha !  my  cousin  J udge,  wilt  pay ! " 

"  Thou  makest  such  a  noise,  Dickon,"  returned  Marma- 
duke,  "it  is  impossible  that  I  can  hear  what  Dr.  Todd  is 
saying, — I  think  thou  observedst,  it  is  probable  the  wound 
will  fester,  so  as  to  occasion  danger  to  the  limb  in  this  cold 
weather  ?  " 

"  Out  of  natur',  sir,  quite  out  of  natur',"  said  Elnathan, 
attempting  to  expectorate,  but  -  succeeding  only  in  throw- 
ing a  light,  frothy  substance,  like  a  flake  of  snow,  into  the 
fire,  "  quite  out  of  natur',  that  a  wound  so  well  dressed, 
and  with  the  ball  in  my  pocket,  should  fester.  I  s'pose, 
as  the  Judge  talks  of  taking  the  young  man  into  his  house, 
it  will  be  most  convenient  if  I  make  but  one  charge  on't." 

"  I  should  think  one  would  do,"  returned  Marmaduke, 
with  that  arch  smile  that  so  often  beamed  on  his  face ; 
leaving  the  beholder  in  doubt  whether  he  most  enjoyed 
the  character  of  his  companion,  or  his  own  covert  humor. 
The  landlord  had  succeeded  in  placing  the  Indian  on  some 
straw  in  one  of  his  outbuildings,  where,  covered  with  his 
own  blanket,  J ohn  continued  for  the  remainder  of  the 
night. 

In  the  mean  time,  Major  Hartmann  began  to  grow  noisy  . 
and  jocular;  glass  succeeded  glass,  and  mug  after  mug  was 
introduced,  until  the  carousal  had  run  deep  into  the  night, 
or  rather  morning;  when  the  veteran  German  expressed 
an  inclination  to  return  to  the  Mansion-house.  Most  of 
the  party  had  already  retired,  but  Marmaduke  knew  the 


154 


THE  PIONEERS. 


habits  of  his  friend  too  well  to  suggest  an  earlier  adjourn- 
ment. So  soon,  however,  as  the  proposal  was  made,  the 
Judge  eagerly  availed  himself  of  it,  and  the  trio  prepared 
to  depart.  Mrs.  Hollister  attended  them  to  the  door  in 
person,  cautioning  her  guests  as  to  the  safest  manner  of 
leaving  her  premises. 

"Lane  on  Mister  Jones,  Major,"  said  she,  "  he's  young, 
and  will  be  a  support  to  ye.  Well,  it's  a  charming  sight 
to  see  ye,  any  way,  at  the  Bould  Dragoon;  and  sure  it's  no 
harm  to  be  kaping  a  Christmas  Eve  wid  a  light  heart,  for 
it's  no  telling  when  we  may  have  sorrow  come  upon  us. 
So  good-night,  Jooge,  and  a  Merry  Christmas  to  ye  all,  to- 
morrow morning." 

The  gentlemen  made  their  adieus  as  well  as  they  could, 
and  taking  the  middle  of  the  road,  which  was  a  fine,  wide, 
and  well-beaten  path,  they  did  tolerably  well  until  they 
reached  the  gate  of  the  Mansion-house ;  but  on  entering 
the  Judge's  domains,  they  encountered  some  slight  diffi- 
culties. We  shall  not  stop  to  relate  them,  but  will  just 
mention  that,  in  the  morning,  sundry  diverging  paths  were 
to  be  seen  in  the  snow ;  and  that  once  during  their  pro- 
gress to  the  door,  Marmaduke,  missing  his  companions, 
was  enabled  to  trace  them,  by  one  of  these  paths,  to  a  spot 
where  he  discovered  them  with  nothing  visible  but  their 
heads,  Kichard  singing  in  a  most  vivacious  strain, — 

Come,  let  us  be  jolly, 
And  cast  away  folly, 
For  grief  turns  a  black  head  to  gray. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

As  she  lay,  on  that  day,  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  O  1 

Previously  to  the  occurrence  of  the  scene  at  the  "  Bold 
Dragoon,"  Elizabeth  had  been  safely  reconducted  to  the 
Mansion-house,  where  she  was  left  as  its  mistress,  either  to 
amuse  or  employ  herself  during  the  evening,  as  best  suited 
her  own  inclinations.  Most  of  the  lights  were  extinguished ; 
but  as  Benjamin  adjusted,  with  great  care  and  regularity, 
four  large  candles,  in  as  many  massive  candlesticks  of 
brass,  in  a  row  on  the  sideboard,  the  hall  possessed  a  pecu- 


THE  PIONEERS, 


'55 


liar  air  of  comfort  and  warmth,  contrasted  with  the  cheer- 
less aspect  of  the  room  she  had  left  in  the  academy. 

Remarkable  had  been  one  of  the  listeners  to  Mr.  Grant, 
and  returned  with  her  resentment,  which  had  been  not  a 
little  excited  by  the  language  of  the  Judge,  somewhat 
softened  by  reflection  and  the  worship.  She  recollected 
the  youth  of  Elizabeth,  and  thought  it  no  difficult  task, 
under  present  appearances,  to  exercise  that  power  indi- 
rectly, which  hitherto  she  had  enjoyed  undisputed.  The 
idea  of  being  governed,  or  of  being  compelled  to  pay  the 
deference  of  servitude,  was  absolutely  intolerable;  and  she 
had  already  determined  within  herself,  some  half  dozen 
times,  to  make  an  effort,  that  should  at  once  bring  to  an 
issue  the  delicate  point  of  her  domestic  condition.  But 
as  often  as  she  met  the  dark,  proud  eye  of  Elizabeth,  who 
was  walking  up  and  down  the  apartment,  musing  on  the 
scenes  of  her  youth,  and  the  change  in  her  condition,  and 
perhaps  the  events  of  the  day,  the  housekeeper  experi- 
enced an  awe  that  she  would  not  own  to  herself  could  be 
excited  by  anything  mortal.  It,  however,  checked  her  ad- 
vances, and  for  some  time  held  her  tongue-tied.  At  length 
she  determined  to  commence  the  discourse,  by  entering  on 
a  subject  that  was  apt  to  level  all  human  distinctions,  and 
in  which  she  might  display  her  own  abilities. 

"  It  was  quite  a  wordy  sarmon  that  Parson  Grant  gave 
us  to-night/'  said  Eemarkable.  "  The  Church  ministers 
be  commonly  smart  sarmonizers;  but  they  write  down 
their  idees,  which  is  a  great  privilege.  I  don't  think  that 
by  natur'  they  are  as  tonguey  speakers,  for  an  off-hand 
discourse,  as  the  standing-order  ministers." 

"And  what  denomination  do  you  distinguish  as  the 
standing-order  ?  "  inquired  Miss  Temple,  with  some  sur- 
prise. 

.  "  Why,  the  Presbyter'ans  and  Congregationals,  and  Bap- 
tists, too,  for't  I  know ;  and  all  sitch  as  don't  go  on  their 
knees  to  prayer." 

"  %  that  rule,  then,  you  would  call  those  who  belong  to 
the  persuasion  of  my  father,  the  sitting-order,"  observed 
Elizabeth. 

"  I'm  sure  Pve  never  heard  'em  spoken  of  by  any  other 
name  than  Quakers,  so-called,"  returned  Eemarkable,  be- 
traying a  slight  uneasiness :  "  I  should  be  the  last  to  call 
them  otherwise,  for  I  never  in  my  life  used  a  disparaging 
tarm  of  the  Judge,  or  any  of  his  family.    I've  always  set 


1 56 


THE  PIONEERS. 


store  by  the  Quakers,  they  are  so  pretty-spoken,  clever 
people;  and  it's  a  wonderment  to  me,  how  your  father 
come  to  marry  into  a  Church  family ;  for  they  are  as  con- 
trary in  religion  as  can  be.  One  sits  still,  and  for  the  most 
part,  says  nothing,  while  the  Church  folks  practyse  all 
kinds  of  ways,  so  that  I  sometimes  think  it  quite  moosical 
to  see  them ;  for  I  went  to  a  Church  meeting  once  before, 
down  country." 

"  You  have  found  an  excellence  in  the  Church  liturgy 
that  has  hitherto  escaped  me.  I  will  thank  you  to  inquire 
whether  the  fire  in  my  room  burns :  I  feel  fatigued  with 
my  journey,  and  will  retire." 
^/Remarkable  felt  a  wonderful  inclination  to  tell  the  young 
//mistress  of  the  mansion,  that  by  opening  a  door  she  might 
see  for  herself;  but  prudence  got  the  better  of  resentment, 
and  after  pausing  some  little  time,  as  a  salvo  to  her  dig- 
nity, she  did  as  desired.  The  report  was  favorable,  and 
the  young  lady,  wishing  Benjamin,  who  was  filling  the 
stove  with  wood,  and  the  housekeeper,  each  a  good-night, 
withdrew. 

The  instant  the  door  closed  on  Miss  Temple,  Remarka- 
ble commenced  a  sort  of  mysterious,  ambiguous  discourse, 
that  was  neither  abusive  nor  commendatory  of  the  quali- 
ties of  the  absent  personage;  but  which  seemed  to  be 
drawing  nigh,  by  regular  degrees,  to  a  most  dissatisfied  de- 
scription. The  major-domo  made  no  reply,  but  continued 
his  occupation  with  great  industry,  which  being  happily 
completed,  he  took  a  look  at  the  thermometer,  and  then, 
opening  a  drawer  of  the  sideboard,  he  produced  a  supply 
of  stimulants  that  would  have  served  to  keep  the  warmth 
in  his  system,  without  the  aid  of  the  enormous  fire  he  had 
been  building.  A  small  stand  was  drawn  up  near  the 
stove,  and  the  bottles  and  the  glasses  necessary  for  conve- 
nience, were  quietly  arranged.  Two  chairs  were  placed  by 
the  side  of  this  comfortable  situation,  when  Benjamin,  for 
the  first  time,  appeared  to  observe  his  companion. 

"  Come,"  he  cried,  "  come,  Mistress  Remarkable,  bring 
yourself  to  an  anchor  in  this  chair.  It's  a  peeler  without, 
X  can  tell  you,  good  woman :  but  what  cares  I  ?  blow  high 
or  blow  low,  d'ye  see,  it's  all  the  same  thing  to  Ben.  The 
niggers  are  snug  stowed  below  before  a  fire  that  would 
roast  an  ox  whole.  The  thermometer  stands  now  at  fifty- 
five,  but  if  there's  any  vartue  in  good  maplewood,  I'll 
weather  upon  it,  before  one  glass,  as  much  as  ten  points 


THE  PIONEERS.  157 

more,  so  that  the  Squire,  when  he  comes  home  from  Betty 
Hollister's  warm  room,  will  feel  as  hot  as  a  hand  that  has 
given  the  rigging  a  lick  with  bad  tar.  Come,  mistress, 
bring  up  in  this  here  chair,  and  tell  me  how  you  like  our 
new  heiress." 

"  Why,  to  my  notion,  Mr.  Penguillum  "— 

"Pump,  Pump," interrupted  Benjamin;  "it's  Christmas 
Eve,  Mistress  Remarkable,  and  so,  d'ye  see,  you  had  better 
call  me  Pump.  It's  a  shorter  name,  and  as  I  mean  to 
pump  this  here  decanter  till  it  sucks,  why,  you  may  as  well 
call  me  Pump." 

"Did  you  ever!"  cried  Remarkable,  with  a  laugh  that 
seemed  to  unhinge  every  joint  in  her  body.  "  You're  a 
moosical  creatur',  Benjamin,  when  the  notion  takes  you. 
But  as  I  was  saying,  I  rather  guess  that  times  will  be 
altered  now  in  this  house." 

"Altered ! "  exclaimed  the  major-domo,  eying  the  bottle 
that  was  assuming  the  clear  aspect  of  cut  glass  with  aston- 
ishing rapidity;  "it  don't  matter  much,  Mistress  Remark- 
able, so  long  as  I  keep  the  keys  of  the  lockers  in  my  pocket." 

"I  can't  say,"  continued  the  housekeeper,  "but  there's 
good^eatables  and  drinkables  enough  in  the  house  for  a 
body's  content— a  little  more  sugar,  Benjamin,  in  the  glass 
— for  Squire  Jones  is  an  excellent  provider.  But  new 
lords,  new  laws;  and  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  you  and  I  had 
an  unsartain  time  on't  in  footer." 

"  Life  is  as  unsartain  as  the  wind  that  blows,"  said  Ben- 
jamin, with  a  moralizing  air;  "and  nothing  is  more  vari'- 
ble  than  the  wind,  Mistress  Remarkable,  unless  you  happen 
to  fall  in  with  the  trades,  d'ye  see,  and  then  you  may  run 
for  the  matter  of  a  month  at  a  time,  with  studding-sails 
on  both  sides,  alow  and  aloft,  and  with  the  cabin-bov  a 
the  wheel."  J1 

"I  know  that  life  is  desp'ut  unsartain,"  said  Remarka- 
ble, compressing  her  features  to  the  humor  of  her  com- 
panion; "but  I  expect  there  will  be  great  changes  made 
m  the  house  to  rights;  and  that  you  will  find  a  young  man 
put  over  your  head,  as  there  is  one  that  wants  to  be  over 
mine;  and  after  having  been  settled  as  long  as  vou  have 
Benjamin,  I  should  judge  that  to  be  hard." 

"  Promotion  should  go  according  to  length  of  sarvice  " 
said  the  major-domo;  "and  if-so-be  that  they  ship  a  hand 
for  my  berth,  or  place  a  new  steward  aft,  I  shall  throw  up 
my  commission  in  less  time  than  you  can  put  a  pilot-boat 


i58 


THE  PIONEERS. 


in  stays.  Tho'f  Squire  Dickens  "—this  was  a  common 
misnomer  with  Benjamin—"  is  a  nice  gentleman,  and  as 
good  a  man  to  sail  with  as  heart  could  wish,  yet  I  shall  tell 
the  Squire,  d'ye  see,  in  plain  English,  and  that's  my  native 
tongue,  that  if-so-be  he  is  thinking  of  putting  any  Johnny 
Raw  over  my  head,  why  I  shall  resign.  I  began  forrard, 
Mistress  Prettybones,  and  worked  my  way  aft,  like  a  man. 
I  was  six  months  aboard  a  Garnsey  lugger,  hauling  in  the 
slack  of  the  lee-sheet,  and  coiling  up  rigging.  From  that 
I  went  a  few  trips  in  a  fore-and-after,  in  the  same  trade, 
which,  after  all,  was  but  a  blind  kind  of  sailing  in  the  dark, 
where  a  man  Tarns  but  little,  excepting  how  to  steer  by 
the  stars.  Well,  then,  d'ye  see,  I  larnt  how  a  topmast 
should  be  slushed,  and  how  a  top-gallant-sail  was  to  be 
becketed;  and  then  I  did  small  jobs  in  the  cabin,  such  as 
mixing  the  skipper's  grog.  'Twas  there  I  got  my  taste, 
which,  you  must  have  often  seen,  is  excellent.  Well,  here's 
better  acquaintance  to  us." 

Remarkable  nodded  a  return  to  the  compliment,  and 
took  a  sip  of  the  beverage  before  her;  for,  provided  it  Was 
well  sweetened,  she  had  no  objection  to  a  small  potation 
now  and  then.  After  this  observance  of  courtesy  between 
the  worthy  couple,  the  dialogue  proceeded. 

"  You  have  had  great  experiences  in  life,  Benjamin,  for, 
as  the  Scripter  says,  '  They  that  go  down  to  the  sea  in 
ships  see  the  works  of  the  Lord/  " 

"Aye,  for  that  matter,  they  in  brigs  and  schooners  too; 
and  it  mought  say,  the  works  of  the  devil.  The  sea,  Mis- 
tress Remarkable,  is  a  great  advantage  to  a  man,  in  the 
way  of  knowledge,  for  he  sees  the  fashions  of  nations,  and 
the  shape  of  a  country.  Now,  I  suppose,  for  myself  here, 
jfc^o  is  but  an  unl'arned  man  to  some  that  follows  the  seas, 
f^Wppose  that,  taking  the  coast  from  Cape  Ler  Hogue,  as 
low  down  as  Cape  Finish-there,  there  isn't  so  much  as  a 
headland,  or  an  island,  that  I  don't  know  either  the  name 
of  it,  or  something  more  or  less  about  it.  Take  enough, 
woman,  to  color  the  water.  Here's  sugar.  It's  a  sweet 
tooth,  that  fellow  that  you  hold  on  upon  yet,  Mistress 
Prettybones.  But,  as  I  was  saying,  take  the  whole  coast 
along,  I  know  it  as  well  as  the  way  from  here  to  the  Bold 
Dragoon;  and  a  devil  of  an  acquaintance  is  that  Bay  of 
Biscay.  Whew!  I  wish  you  could  but  hear  the  wind  blow 
there.  It  sometimes  takes  two  to  hold  one  man's  hair  on 
his  head.    Scudding  through  the  Bay  is  pretty  much  the 


THE  PIONEERS. 


159 


same  thing  as  travelling  the  roads  in  this  country,  up  one 
side  of  the  mountain,  and  down  the  other/' 

"Do  tell!"  exclaimed  Remarkable;  "and  does  the  sea 
run  as  high  as  mountains,  Benjamin  ?  " 

"Well,  I  will  tell;  but  first  let's  taste  the  grog.  Hem! 
it's  the  right  kind  of  stuff,  I  must  say,  that  you  keep  in 
this  country,  but  then  you're  so  close  aboard  the  West  In- 
dies, you  make  but  a  small  run  of  it.  By  the  Lord  Harry, 
woman,  if  Garnsey  only  lay  somewhere  between  Cape 
Hatteras  and  the  Bite  of  Logann,  but  you'd  see  rum  cheap ! 
As  to  the  seas,  they  runs  more  in  uppers  in  the  Bay  of  Bis- 
cay, unless  it  may  be  in  a  sou'wester,  when  they  tumble 
about  quite  handsomely;  tho'f  it's  not  in  the  narrow  sea 
that  you  are  to  look  for  a  swell ;  just  go  off  the  Western 
Islands,  in  a  westerly  blow,  keeping  the  land  on  your  lar- 
board hand,  with  the  ship's  head  to  the  south'ard,  and  bring 
to,  under  a  close-reefed  topsail ;  or,  mayhap,  a  reefed  fore- 
sail, with  a  fore-topmast-staysail,  and  mizzen-staysail,  to 
keep  her  up  to  the  sea,  if  she  will  bear  it;  and  lay  there 
for  the  matter  of  two  watches,  if  you  want  to  see  moun- 
tains. Why,  good  woman,  I've  been  off  there  in  the  Boad- 
ishey  frigate,  when  you  could  see  nothing  but  some  such 
matter  as  a  piece  of  sky,  mayhap,  as  big  as  the  mainsail ; 
and  then  again,  there  was  a  hole  under  your  lee-quarter 
big  enough  to  hold  the  whole  British  navy." 

"  0 !  for  massy's  sake !  and  wa'n't  you  af eared,  Benja- 
min ?  and  how  did  you  get  off  ?  " 

"Afeared. !  who  the  devil  do  you  think  was  to  be  fright- 
ened at  a  little  salt  water  tumbling  about,  his  head  ?  As 
for  getting  off,  when  we  had  enough  of  it,  and  had  washed 
our  decks  down  pretty  well,  we  called  all  hands,  for,  d'ye 
see,  the  watch  below  was  in  their  hammocks,  all  the  samk 
as  if  they  were  in  one  of  your  best  bedrooms;  and  so  mb 
watched  for  a  smooth  time ;  clapt  her.  helm  hard  a-weather, 
let  fall  the  foresail,  and  got  the  tack  aboard ;  and  so,  when 
we  got  her  afore  it,  I  ask  you,  Mistress  Prettybones,  if  she 
didn't  walk  ?  didn't  she  ?  I'm  no  liar,  good  woman,  when 
I  say  that  I  saw  that  ship  jump  from  the  top  of  one  sea  to 
another,  just  like  one  of  these  squirrels,  that  can  fly,  jumps 
from  tree  to  tree." 

.  "What,  clean  out  of  the  water!"  exclaimed  Remarkable, 
lifting  her  two  lank  arms,  with  their  bony  hands  spread 
in  astonishment. 

"  It  was  no  such  easy  matter  to  get  out  of  the  water, 


i6o 


THE  PIONEERS. 


good  woman;  for  the  spray  flew  so  that  you  couldn't  tell 
which  was  sea  and  which  was  cloud.  So  there  we  kept 
her  afore  it  for  the  matter  of  two  glasses.  The  first  lieu- , 
tenant  he  cun'd  the  ship  himself,  and  there  was  four 
quartermasters  at  the  wheel,  besides  the  master  with  six 
forecastle  men  in  the  gun-room,  at  the  relieving  tackles. 
But  then  she  behaved  herself  so  well!  0!  she  was  a  sweet 
ship,  mistress !  That  one  frigate  was  well  worth  more,  to 
live  in,  than  the  best  house  in  the  island.  If  I  was  King 
of  England,  Pd  have  her  hauled  up  above  Lon'on  bridge, 
and  fit  her  up  for  a  palace ;  because  why  ?  if  anybody  can 
afford  to  live  comfortably,  his  Majesty  can." 

"  Well !  but,  Benjamin,"  cried  the  listener,  who  was  in 
an  ecstasy  of  astonishment,  at  this  relation  of  the  steward's 
dangers,  "  what  did  you  do  ?  " 

"Do!  why  we  did  our  duty  like  hearty  fellows.  Now  if 
the  countrymen  of  Mounsheer  Ler  Quaw  had  been  aboard 
of  her,  they  would  have  just  struck  her  ashore  on  some  of 
them  small  islands;  but  we  run  along  the  land,  until  we 
found  her  dead  to  leeward  off  the  mountains  of  Pico,  and 
dam'me  if  I  know  to  this  day  how  we  got  there ;  whether 
we  jumped  over  the  island,  or  hauled  round  it ;  but  there 
we  was,  and  there  we  lay,  under  easy  sail,  fore-reaching 
first  upon  one  tack  and  then  upon  t'other,  so  as  to  poke 
her  nose  out  now  and  then,  and  take  a  look  to  wind'ard, 
till  the  gale  blowed  its  pipe  out." 

"  I  wonder  now !  "  exclaimed  Remarkable,  to  whom  most 
of  the  terms  used  by  Benjamin  were  perfectly  unintelligi- 
ble, but  who  had  got  a  confused  idea  of  a  raging  tempest. 
"  It  must  be  an  awful  life,  that  going  to  sea !  and  I  don't 
feel  astonishment  that  you  are  so  affronted  with  the 
thoughts  of  being  forced  to  quit  a  comfortable  home  like 
this.  Not  that  a  body  cares  much  for't,  as  there's  more 
houses  than  one  to  live  in.  Why,  when  the  J udge  agreed 
with  me  to  come  and  live  with  him,  I'd  no  more  notion 
of  stopping  any  time  than  anything.  I  happened  in,  just 
to  see  how  the  family  did,  about  a  week  after  Miss  Temple 
died,  thinking  to  be  back  home  agin  night ;  but  the  family 
was  in  sitch  a  distressed  way,  that  I  couldn't  but  stop 
awhile,  and  help  'em  on.  I  thought  the  situation  a  good 
one,  seeing  that  I  was  an  unmarried  body,  and  they  were 
so  much  in  want  of  help;  so  I  tarried." 

"And  a  long  time  have  you  left  your  anchors  down  in 
the  same  place,  mistress.  I  think  you  must  find  that  the 
ship  rides  easy." 


THE  PIONEERS. 


161 


"How  You  talk,  Benjamin!  there's  no  believing  a  word 
you  say.  I  must  say  that  the  Judge  and  Squire  Jones  have 
both  acted  quite  clever,  so  long;  but  I  see  that  now  we 
shall  have  a  specimen  to  the  contrary.  I  heer'n  say  that 
the  Judge  was  gone  a  great  'broad,  and  that  he  meant  Lo 
bring  his  darter  hum,  but  I  didn't  calculate  on  sitch  car- 
rins  on.  To  my  notion,  Benjamin,  she's  likely  to  turn  out 
a  desp'ut  ugly  gal." 

"  Ugly ! "  echoed  the  major-domo,  opening  eyes  that  were 
beginning  to  close  in  a  very  suspicious  sleepiness,  in  wide 
amazement.  "  By  the  Lord  Harry,  woman,  I  should  as 
soon  think  of  calling  the  Boadishey  a  clumsy  frigate. 
What  the  devil  would  you  have  ?  aren't  her  eyes  as  bright 
as  the  morning  and  evening  stars  ?  and  isn't  her  hair  as 
black  and  glistening  as  rigging  that  has  just  had  a  lick  of 
tar  ?  doesn't  she  move  as  stately  as  a  first-rate  in  smooth 
water,  on  a  bowline  ?  Why,  woman,  the  figure-head  of 
the  Boadishey  was  a  fool  to  her,  and  that,  as  I've  often 
heard  the  captain  say,  was  an  image  of  a  great  queen ;  and 
aren't  queens  always  comely  women  ?  for  who  do  you  think 
would  be  a  king,  and  not  choose  a  handsome  bedfellow  ?  " 

"  Talk  decent,  Benjamin,"  said  the  housekeeper,  "  or  I 
won't  keep  your  company.  I  don't  gainsay  her  being  come- 
ly to  look  on,  but  I  will  maintain  that  she's  likely  to  show 
poor  conduct.  She  seems  to  think  herself  too  good  to 
talk  to  a  body.  From  what  Squire  Jones  had  telled  me, 
I  some  expected  to  be  quite  captivated  by  her  company. 
Now,  to  my  reckoning,  Lowizy  Grant  is  much  more  pritty 
behaved  than  Betsey  Temple.  She  wouldn't  so  much  as 
hold  discourse  with  me,  when  I  wanted  to  ask  her  how  she 
felt,  on  coming  home  and  missing  her  mammy." 

"Perhaps  she  didn't  understand  you,  woman;  you  are 
none  of  the  best  linguister ;  and  then  Miss  Lizzy  has  been 
exercising  the  king's  English  under  a  great  Lon'on  lady 
and,  for  that  matter,  can  talk  the  language  almost  as  well 
as  myself,  or  any  native  born  British  subject.  You've 
forgot  your  schooling,  and  the  young  mistress  is  a  great 
scollard." 

"  Mistress ! "  cried  Eemarkable,  "  don't  make  one  out  to 
be  a  nigger,  Benjamin.  She's  no  mistress  of  mine,  and 
never  will  be.  And  as  to  speech,  I  hold  myself  as  second 
to  nobody  out  of  New  England.  I  was  born  and  raised  in 
Essex  County;  and  I've  always  heer'n  say  that  the  Bay„ 
State  was  provarbal  for  pronounsation ! "  ' 


1 62 


THE  PIONEERS. 


«  Fve  often  heard  of  that  Bay  of  State,"  said  Benjamin, 
"  but  can't  say  that  I've  ever  been  in  it,  nor  do  I  know  ex- 
actly where-away  it  is  that  it  lays ;  but  I  suppose  there  is 
good  anchorage  in  it,  and  that  it's  no  bad  place  for  the 
taking  of  ling;  but  for  size,  it  can't  be  so  much  as  a  yawl 
to  a  sloop  of  war,  compared  with  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  or 
mayhap,  Torbay.  And  as  for  language,  if  you  want  to 
hear  the  dictioiiarv  overhauled,  like  a  long-line  in  a  blow, 
you  must  go  to  Wapping,  and  listen  to  the  Lon'oners,  as 
they  deal  out  their  lingo.  Howsomever,  I  see  no  such 
mighty  matter  that  Miss  Lizzy  has  been  doing  to  you,  good 
woman,  so  take  another  drop  of  your  brew,  and  forgive 
and  forget,  like  an  honest  soul." 

"  No,  indeed !  and  I  shan't  do  sitch  a  thing,  Benjamin. 
This  treatment  is  a  newity  to  me,  and  what  I  won't  put  up 
with.  I  have  a  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  at  use,  besides  a 
bed  and  twenty  sheep,  to  good;  and  I  don't  crave  to  live 
in  a  house  where  a  body  mustn't  call  a  young  woman  by 
her  given  name  to  her  face.  I  will  call  her  Betsey  as  much 
as  I  please;  it's  a  free  country,  and  no  one  can  stop  me.  I 
did  intend  to  stop  while  summer,  but  I  shall  quit  to-mor- 
row morning;  and  I  will  talk  just  as  I  please." 

"  For  that  matter,  Mistress  Remarkable,"  said  Benjamin, 
«.  there's  none  here  who  will  contradict  you ;  for  I'm  of 
opinion  that  it  would  be  as  easy  to  stop  a  hurricane  with  a 
Barcelony  handkerchy,  as  to  bring  up  your  tongue  when 
the  stopper  is  off.  I  say,  good  woman,  do  they  grow  many 
monkeys  along  the  shores  of  that  Bay  of  State  ?  " 

"  You're  a  monkey  yourself,  Mr.  Penguillum,"  cried  the 
enraged  housekeeper, "  or  a  bear !  a  black,  beastly  bear !  and 
ain't  fit  for  a  decent  woman  to  stay  with.  I'll  never  keep 
your  company  ag'in,  sir,  if  I  should  live  thirty  years  with 
the  Judge.  Sitch  talk  is  more  befitting  the  kitchen  than 
the  keeping-room  of  a  house  of  one  who  is  well  to  do  in 
the  world." 

"  Look  you,  Mistress  Pitty— Patty— Prettybones,  may- 
hap I'm  some  such  matter  as  a  bear,  as  they  will  find  who 
come  to  grapple  with  me ;  but  dam'me  if  I'm  a  monkey— 
a  thing  that  chatters  without  knowing  a  word  of  what  it 
savs— a  parrot;  that  will  hold  a  dialogue,  for  what  an 
honest  man  knows,  in  a  dozen  languages ;  mayhap  in  the 
Bay  of  State  lingo;  mayhap  in  Greek  or  High  Dutch. 
But  dost  it  know  what  it  means  itself  ?  canst  answer  me 
that,  good  woman  ?    Your  midshipman  can  sing  out,  and 


THE  PIONEERS.  163 

pass  the  word,  when  the  captain  gives  the  order,  but  just 
set  him  adrift  by  himself,  and  let  him  work  the  ship  of  his 
own  head,  and  stop  my  grog,  if  you  don't  find  all  the 
J ohnny  Raws  laughing  at  him." 

"  Stop  your  grog,  indeed !  "  said  Remarkable,  rising  with 
great  indignation,  and  seizing  a  candle;  "you're  groggy 
now,  Benjamin,  and  I'll  quit  the  room  before  I  hear  any 
misbecoming  words  from  you." 

The  housekeeper  retired,  with  a  manner  but  little  less 
dignified,  as  she  thought,  than  the  air  of  the  heiress,  mut- 
tering, as  she  drew  the  door  after  her,  with  a  noise  like  the 
report  of  a  musket,  the  opprobrious  terms  of  "  drunkard 
"sot,"  and  " beast." 

.  "  Who's  that  you  say  is  drunk  ?  "  cried  Benjamin,  fiercely, 
rising  and  making  a  movement  towards  Remarkable.  "  You 
talk  of  mustering  yourself  with  a  lady!  you're  just  fit  to 
grumble  and  find  fault.  Where  the  devil  should  you  larn  be- 
havior and  dictionary  ?  in  your  damned  Bay  of  State,  ha  ?  * 

Benjamin  here  fell  back  in  his  chair,  and  soon  gave  vent  * 
to  certain  ominous  sounds,  which  resembled  not  a  little 
the  growling  of  his  favorite  animal,  the  bear  itself.  Be- 
fore, however,  he  was  quite  locked— to  use  the  language 
that  would  suit  the  Delia  Cruscan  humor  of  certain  re- 
fined minds  of  the  present  day, "  in  the  arms  of  Morpheus," 
he  spoke  aloud,  observing  due  pauses  between  his  epithets, 
the  impressive  terms  of  "monkey,"  "parrot,"  "pic-nic," 
"  tar-pot,"  and  "  linguisters." 

We  shall  not  attempt  to  explain  his  meaning,  nor  con- 
nect his  sentences;  and  our  readers  must  be  satisfied  with 
our  informing  them  that  they  were  expressed  with  all  that 
coolness  of  contempt  that  a  man  might  well  be  supposed 
to  feel  for  a  monkey. 

Nearly  two  hours  passed  in  this  sleep  before  the  major- 
domo  was  awakened  by  the  noisy  entrance  of  Richard, 
Major  Hartmann,  and  the  master  of  the  mansion.  Benja- 
min so  far  rallied  his  confused  faculties,  as  to  shape  the 
course  of  the  two  former  to  their  respective  apartments, 
when  he  disappeared  himself,  leaving  the  task  of  securing 
the  house  to  him  who  was  most  interested  in  its  safety. 
Locks  and  bars  were  but  little  attended  to  in  the  early 
day  of  that  settlement;  and  so  soon  as  Marmaduke  had 
given  an  eye  to  the  enormous  fires  of  his  dwelling,  he  re- 
tired. With  this  act  of  prudence  closes  the  first  night  of 
our  tale,  ° 


THE  PIONEERS. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Watch  (aside).   Some  treason,  masters— 
Yet  stand  close.  Much  Adq  NoTHING. 

It  was  fortunate  for  more  than  one  of  the  bacchanalians 
who  left  the  "  Bold  Dragoon  "  late  in  the  evening,  that  the 
severe  cold  of  the  season  was  becoming  rapidly  less  dan- 
gerous, as  tiny  threaded^  different  mazes  through  the 
liowbanks  that  led  to  their  respective  dwellings.  Thin, 
driving  clouds  began,  towards  morning,  to  flit  across  the 
heavens,  and  the  moon  set  behind  a  volume  of  vapor  that 
was  impelled  furiously  towards  the  north,  carrying  with  it 
the  softer  atmosphere  from  the  distant  ocean.  The  rising 
sun  was  obscured  by  denser  and  increasing  columns  ot 
clouds  while  the  southerly  wind  that  rushed  up  the  valley, 
brought  the  never-failing  symptoms  ot  a  thaw 

It  was  quite  late  in  the  morning  before  Elizabeth,  ob- 
serving the  faint  glow  which  appeared  on  the  eastern 
mountain  long  after  the  light  of  the  sun  had  struck  the 
opposite  hills,  ventured  from  the  house  with  a  view  to 
gratify  her  curiosity  with  a  glance  by  daylight  at  the  sur- 
rounding objects,  before  the  tardy  revelers  of  the  Chi  s  - 
mas  Eve  should  make  their  appearance  at  the  breaktast- 
table.  While  she  was  drawing  the  folds  of  her  pelisse 
more  closely  around  her  form,  to  guard  against  a  cold  that 
was  yet  great,  though  rapidly  yielding,  m  the  small  inclo- 
sure  that  opened  in  the  rear  of  the  house  on  a  little  thicket 
of  low  pines,  that  were  springing  up  where  trees  ot  a 
mightier  growth  had  lately  stood,  she  was  surprised  at  the 

voice  of  Mr.  Jones. 

"Merry  Christmas!  Merry  Christmas  to  you,  cousin 
Bess!"  he  shouted.  "Ah,  ha!  an  early  riser,  I  see;  but  1 
knew  I  should  steal  a  march  on  you.  I  never  was  in  a 
house  yet,  where  I  didn't  get  the  first  Christmas  greeting 
on  every  soul  in  it,  man,  woman  and  child;  great  and 
small;  black,  white,  and  yellow.  But  stop  a  minute ^  till  I 
can  just  slip  on  my  coat;  you  are  about  to  look  at  the  im- 


THE  PIONEERS.  165 

provements,  I  see,  which  no  one  can  explain  so  well  as  1 
who  planned  them  all.  It  will  be  an  hour  before  'Duke 
and  the  Major  can  sleep  off  Mrs.  Ilollister's  confounded 
distillations,  and  so  I'll  come  down  and  go  with  you." 

Elizabeth  turned,  and  observed  her  cousin  in  his  night 
cap  with  his  head  out  of  his  bedroom  window,  where  his 
zeal  for  preeminence,  in  defiance  of  the  weather,  had  im- 
pelled him  to  thrust  it.  She  laughed,  and  promising  to 
wait  for  his  company,  reentered  the  house,  making  her  ap- 
pearance again,  holding  in  her  hand  a  packet  that  was 
secured  by  several  large  and  important  seals,  fust  in  time 
to  meet  the  gentleman. 

"Come,  Bessy,  come/'  he  cried,  drawing  one  of  her  arms 
through  his  own;  "the  snow  begins  to  give,  but  it  will 
bear  us  yet.  _  Don't  you  snuff  old  Pennsylvania  in  the  very 
air  f  lhis  is  a  vile  climate,  girl;  now,  at  sunset,  last  even- 
ing, it  was  cold  enough  to  freeze  a  man's  zeal,  and  that,  I 
can  tell  you,  takes  a  thermometer  near  zero  for  me-  then 
about  nine  or  ten  it  began  to  moderate;  at  twelve  it  was 
quite  mild,  and  here  all  the  rest  of  the  night  I  have  been 
so  hot,  as  not  to  bear  a  blanket  on  the  bed.  Hallo  T  Assv 
-Merry  Christmas,  Aggy-I  say,  do  you  hear  me,  you 
black  dog  !  there's  a  dollar  for  you;  and  if  the  gentlemen 
get  up  before  I  come  back,  do  you  come  out  and  let  me 
know.  I  wouldn't  have  'Duke  get  the  start  of  me  for 
the  worth  of  your  head." 

The  black  caught  the  money  from  the  snow,  and  pro- 
mising a  due  degree  of  watchfulness,  he  gave  the  dollar  a 
whirl  of  twenty  feet  in  the  air,  and  catching  it  as  it  fell, 
m  the  palm  of  his  hand,  he  withdrew  to  the  kitchen,  to 
exhibit  his  present,  with  a  heart  as  light  as  his  face  was 
happy  m  its  expression. 

"0,  rest  easy,  my  dear  coz,"  said  the  young-  ladv;  "I 
took  a  look  m  at  my  father,  who  is  likely  to  sleep  an  hour, 
and  by  using  due  vigilance,  you  will  secure  all  the  honors 
01  the  season." 

"Why,  'Duke  is  your  father,  Elizabeth;  but  'Duke  is  a 
man  who  likes  to  be  foremost,  even  in  trifles.  Now,  as  for 
mysell ,  I  care  for  no  such  things,  except  in  the  way  of 
competition;  for  a  thing  which  is  of  no  moment  in  itself - 
may  be  made  of  importance  in  the  way  of  competition, 
bo  it  is  with  your  father— he  loves  to  be  first;  but  I  only 
struggle  with  him  as  a  competitor." 
/'It's  all  very  clear,  sir,"  said  Elizabeth;  "you  would 


THE  PIONEERS. 

not  care  a  fig  for  distinction  if  there  were  no  one  in  the 
world  hut  vourself;  but  as  there  happen  to  be  a  gieat 
many  other's,  why,  you  must  struggle  with  them  all-m 
the  way  of  competition." 

"Exactly  so;  I  see  you  are  a  clever  girl,  Bess,  and  one 
who  does  credit  to  her  masters.  It  was  my  plan  to  send 
you  to  that  school;  for  when  your  father  first  mentioned 
the  thing,  I  wrote  a  private  letter  for  advice  to  a  judicious 
friend  in  the  city,  who  recommended  the  very  school  you 
went  to.  'Duke  was  a  little  obstinate  at  first,  as  usual,  but 
when  he  heard  the  truth,  he  was  obliged  to  send  you. 

"Well  a  truce  to 'Duke's  foibles,  sir;  he  is  my  father, 
and  if  you  knew  what  he  has  been  doing  for  you  while  we 
were  in  Albany,  you  would  deal  more  tenderly  with  his 

Ch«Foreme!  "  cried  Kichard,  pausing  a  moment  in  bis  walk 
to  reflect.  "0!  he  got  the  plans  of  the  new  Dutch 
meeting-house  for  me,  I  suppose;  but  I  care  very  little 
about  it,  for  a  man  of  a  certain  kind  of  talent  is ^  seldom 
aided  by  any  foreign  suggestions:  his  own  brain  is  the 

be«NoC such^thing,"  said  Elizabeth,  looking  provokingly 

kn" Nof 'let  me  see-perhaps  he  had  my  name  put  in  the 
bill  for  the  new  turnpike,  as  a  director." 

"He  might  possibly;  but  it  is  not  to  such  an  appoint- 
ment that  I  allude."  _    -y  ,    i>'  n 

"  Such  an  appointment! »  repeated  Mr.  Jones  who  began 
to  fidget  with  curiosity;  "  then  iUs  an  appointment.  It 
it  is  in  the  militia,  I  won't  take  it." 

«  No,  no, Tt  is  not  in  the  militia,"  cried  Elizabeth,  show- 
ing the  packet  in  her  hand,  and  then  drawing  it  back  w  ith 
a  coquettish  air;  "  it  is  an  office  of  both  honor  and  emolu- 

m"nHonor  and  emolument!"  echoed  Richard,  in  painful 
suspense;  "show  me  the  paper,  girl.    Say,  is  it  an  office 

office  of  the  county;  at  least  so  said  my  fa  he  ,  vvhei .he 
gave  me  this  packet  to  offer  you  as  a  Christ  i .  s-box 
'Surely,  if  anything  will  please  Dickon,'  he  said,  it  will 
be  to  fill  the  executive  chair  of  the  county. 

"Executive  chair!  what  nonsense!"  cnedtl.e  impatient 
gentleman,  snatching  the  packet  from  her  hand,  there 


THE  PIONEERS. 


167 


is  no  such  office  in  the  county.  Eh !  what !  it  is,  I  de- 
clare, a  commission,  appointing  Richard  Jones,  Esquire, 
sheriff  of  the  county.  Well,  this  is  kind  in  'Duke,  posi- 
tively.   I  must  say  'Duke  has  a  warm  heart,  and  never 

forgets  his  friends.    Sheriff!    High  Sheriff  of  !  It 

sounds  well,  Bess,  but  it  shall  execute  better.  'Duke  is  a 
judicious  man  after  all,  and  knows  human  nature  thor- 
oughly. I'm  much  obliged  to  him,"  continued  Richard, 
using  the  skirt  of  his  coat  unconsciously,  to  wipe  his  eyes ; 
ee  though  I  would  do  as  much  for  him  any  day,  as  he  shall 
see,  if  I  have  an  opportunity  to  perform  any  of  the  duties 
of  my  office  on  him.  It  shall  be  done,  cousin  Bess — it 
shall  be  done,  I  say.  How  this  cursed  south  wind  makes 
one's  eyes  water ! " 

"Now,  Richard,"  said  the  laughing  maiden,  "now  I 
think  you  will  find  something  to  do.  I  have  often  heard 
you  complain  of  old,  that  there  was  nothing  to  do  in  this 
new  country,  while  to  my  eyes  it  seemed  as  if  everything 
remained  to  be  done." 

"  Do  ! "  echoed  Richard,  who  blew  his  nose,  raised  his 
little  form  to  its  greatest  elevation,  and  looked  serious. 
"Everything  depends  on  system,  girl.  I  shall  sit  down 
this  afternoon,  and  systematize  the  county.  I  must 
have  deputies,  you  know.  I  will  divide  the  county  into 
districts,  over  which  I  will  place  my  deputies ;  and  I  will 
have  one  for  the  village,  which  I  will  call  my  home  depart- 
ment. Let  me  see — 0!  Benjamin!  yes,  Benjamin  will 
make  a  good  deputy;  he  has  been  naturalized,  and  would 
answer  admirably,  if  he  could  only  ride  on  horseback." 

"Yes,  Mr.  Sheriff,"  said  his  companion;  "and  as  he 
understands  ropes  so  well,  he  would  be  very  expert,  should 
occasion  happen  for  his  services,  in  another  way." 

"  No,"  interrupted  the  other,  "  I  flatter  myself  that  no 
man  could  hang  a  man  better  than — that  is — ha — O !  yes, 
Benjamin  would  do  extremely  well,  in  such  an  unfortunate 
dilemma,  if  he  could  be  persuaded  to  attempt  it.  But  I 
should  despair  of  the  thing.  I  never  could  induce  him  to 
hang,  or  teach  him  to  ride  on  horseback.  I  must  seek 
another  deputy." 

"  Well,  sir,  as  you  have  abundant  leisure  for  all  these 
important  affairs,  I  beg  that  you  will  forget  that  you  are 
High  Sheriff,  and  devote  some  little  of  your  time  to  gal- 
lantry. Where  are  the  beauties  and  improvements  which 
you  were  to  show  me?" 


i68  THE  PIONEERS. 


new 


Where  ?  why  everywhere.  Here  I  have  laid  out  some 
w  streets;  and  when  they  are  opened,  and  the  trees 
felled,  and  they  are  all  built  up,  will  they  not  make  a  fine 
town  ?  Well,  'Duke  is  a  liberal-hearted  fellow,  with  all  his 
stubbornness.  Yes,  yes,  I  must  have  at  least  four  deputies, 
besides  a  jailer/'  ;  . 

"I  see  no  streets  in  the  direction  of  our  walk,  said 
Elizabeth,  "unless  you  call  the  short  avenues  through  these 
pine  bushes  by  that  name.  Surely  you  do  not  contemplate 
building  houses,  very  soon,  in  that  forest  before  us,  and  m 
those  swamps  I" 

"  We  must  run  our  streets  by  the  compass,  coz,  and  dis- 
regard trees,  hills,  ponds,  stumps,  or,  in  fact,  anything  but 
posterity.  Such  is  the  will  of  your  father,  and  your 
father,  you  know  "— 

"Had  you  made  Sheriff,  Mr.  Jones/'  interrupted  the 
lady,  with  a  tone  that  said  very  plainly  to  the  gentleman, 
that  he  was  touching  a  forbidden  subject. 

"I  know  it,  I  know  it,"  cried  Richard;  "and  if  it  were 
in  my  power,  I'd  make  'Duke  a  king.  He  is  a  noble- 
hearted  fellow,  and  would  make  an  excellent  king;  that 
is,  if  he  had  a  good  prime  minister.  But  who  have  we 
here  ?  voices  in  the  bushes;  a  combination  about  mischiel, 
I'll  wager  my  commission.  Let  us  draw  near,  and  examine 
a  little  into  the  matter." 

During  this  dialogue,  as  the  parties  had  kept  m  motion, 
Richard  and  his  cousin  advanced  some  distance  from  the 
house,  into  the  open  space  in  the  rear  of  the  village,  where, 
as  may  be  gathered  from  the  conversation,  streets  were 
planned,  and  future  dwellings  contemplated;  but  where, 
in  truth,  the  only  mark  of  improvement  that  was  to  be 
seen,  was  a  neglected  clearing  along  the  skirt  of  a  dark 
forest  of  mighty  pines,  over  which  the  bushes  or  sprouts 
of  the  same  tree  had  sprung  np,  to  a  height  that  inter- 
spersed the  fields  of  snow  with  little  thickets  of  evergreen. 
The  rushing  of  the  wind,  as  it  whistled  through  the  tops 
of  these  mimic  trees,  prevented  the  footsteps  of  the  pair 
from  being  heard,  while  the  branches  concealed  their  per- 
sons.   Tims  aided,  the  listeners  drew  nigh  to  a  spot  where 
the  young  hunter,  Leather-Stocking,  and  the  Indian  chief, 
were  collected  in  an  earnest  consultation.  The  former  was 
urgent  in  his  manner,  and  seemed  to  think  the  subject  of 
deep  importance,  while  Natty  appeared  to  listen  with  more 
than  his  usual  attention,  to  what  the  other  was  saying. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


169 


Mohegan  stood  a  little  on  one  side,  with  his  head  sunken 
on  his  chest,  his  hair  falling  forward,  so  as  to  conceal  most 
of  his  features,  and  his  whole  attitude  expressive  of  deep 
dejection,  if  not  of  shame. 

"Let  us  withdraw/' whispered  Elizabeth;  "we  are  in- 
truders, and  can  have  no  right  to  listen  to  the  secrets  of 
these  men." 

"  No  right ! 99  returned  Richard,  a  little  impatiently,  in 
the  same  tone,  and  drawing  her  arm  so  forcibly  through 
his  own  as  to  prevent  her  retreat ;  "  you  forget,  cousin,  that 
it  is  my  duty  to  preserve  the  peace  of  the  county,  and  see 
the  laws  executed.  These  wanderers  frequently  commit 
depredations ;  though  I  do  not  think  John  would  do  any- 
thing secretly.  Poor  fellow !  he  was  quite  boozy  last  night, 
and  hardly  seems  to  be  over  it  yet.  Let  us  draw  nigher, 
and  hear  what  they  say." 

Notwithstanding  the  lady's  reluctance,  Kichard,  stimu- 
lated doubtless  by  his  nice  sense  of  duty,  prevailed;  and 
they  were  soon  so  near  as  distinctly  to  hear  sounds. 

"The  bird  must  be  had,"  said  Natty,  "by  fair  means  or 
foul.  Heigho !  Fve  known  the  time,  lad,  when  the  wild 
turkeys  wasn't  over  scarce  in  the  country;  though  you 
must  go  into  the  Yirginy  gaps,  if  you  want  them  now.  To 
be  sure,  there  is  a  different  taste  to  a  partridge,  and  a 
well-fatted  turkey;  though,  to  my  eating,  beaver's  tail  and 
bear's  hams  makes  the  best  of  food.  But  then  every  one 
has  his  own  appetite.  I  gave  the  last  farthing,  all  to  that 
shilling,  to  the  French  trader,  this  very  morning,  as  I  came 
through  the  town,  for  powder;  so,  as  you  have  nothing, 
we  can  have  but  one  shot  for  it.  I  know  that  Billy  Kirby 
is  out,  and  means  to  have  a  pull  of  the  trigger  at  that  very 
turkey.  John  has  a  true  eye  for  a  single  fire,  and  some- 
how my  hand  shakes  so  whenever  I  have  to  do  anything 
extrornary,  that  I  often  lose  my  aim.  Now,  when  I  killed 
the  she-bear  this  fall,  with  her  cubs,  though  they  were  so 
mighty  ravenous,  I  knocked  them  over  one  at  a  shot,  and 
loaded  while  I  dodged  the  trees  in  the  bargain ;  but  this  is 
a  very  different  thing,  Mr.  Oliver." 

"  This,"  cried  the  young  man  with  an  accent  that  sounded 
as  if  he  took  a  bitter  pleasure  in  his  poverty,  while  he  held 
a  shilling  up  before  his  eyes,  "this  is  all  the  treasure  that 
I  possess — this  and  my  rifle !  Now,  indeed,  I  have  become 
a  man  of  the  woods,  and  must  place  my  sole  dependence 
on  the  chase.    Come,  Natty,  let  us  stake  the  last  penny 


170  THE  PIONEERS. 

for  the  bird;  with  your  aim,  it  cannot  fail  to  be  sue- 

cessful  "  • 

« I  would  rather  it  should  be  John,  lad ;  my  heart  jumps  in- 
to my  mouth,  because  yon  set  .your  mind so  much  on  t;  and 
I'm  sartain  that  1  shall  miss  the  bird.  Them  Indians  can 
shoot  one  time  as  well  as  another;  nothing  ever  troubles 
them.  I  say,  John,  here's  a  shilling ;  take  my  rifle,  and  get 
a  shot  at  the  big  turkey  they've  put  up  at  the  stump.  Mr 
Oliver  is  over  anxious  for  the  creatur'  and  I'm  sure  to  do 
nothing  when  I  have  over  anxiety  about  it.  ,. 

The  Indian  turned  his  head  gloomily,  and,  after  looking 
keenly  for  a  moment,  in  profound  silence,  at  his  com- 
panions, he  replied, —  .  • 

"  When  John  was  young,  eyesight  was  not  stiaignter 
than  his  bullet.  The  Mingo  squaws  cried  out  at  the  sound 
of  his  rifle.  The  Mingo  warriors  were  made  squaws. 
When  did  he  ever  shoot  twice !  The  eag  e  went  above  the 
clouds,  when  he  passed  the  wigwam  of  Chingachgook;  his 
feathers  were  plenty  with  the  women.  But  see,  hejaid 
raising  his  voice  from  the  low,  mournful  tones,  m  which 
he  had  spoken,  to  a  pitch  of  keen  excitement,  and  stretch- 
ing forth  both  hands,  "they  shake  like  a  deer  at  the  wolf  a 
howl.  Is  John  old  ?  When  was  a  Mohican  a  squaw,  with 
seventy  winters!  No!  the  white  man  brings  old  age  with 
him — rum  is  his  tomahawk ! "  , 

"Why  then  do  you  use  it,  old  man?"  exclaimed  the 
young  hunter;  "  why  will  one,  so  noble  by  nature,  aid  the 
devices  of  the  devil,  by  making  himself  a  beast ! 

"Beast!  is  John  a  beast  ? "  replied  the  Indian  slowly, 
"yes;  you  say  no  lie,  child  of  the  Fire-eater!  John  m ia 
boast!  The  smokes  were  once  few  in  these  lulls.  The 
deer  would  lick  the  hand  of  a  white  man,  and  the  birds 
rest  on  his  head.  They  were  strangers  to  him.  My  fathers 
came  from  the  shores  of  the  salt  lake.  They  fled  before 
rum.  They  came  to  their  grandfather  and 
peace;  or,  when  they  did  raise  the  hatchet,  it  was  to  sti  ke 
ft  into  the  brain  of  i  Mingo.  They  gathered  around  the 
council-fire,  and  what  they  said  was  done  Then  John  was 
the  man.  But  warriors  and  traders  with  hght^ eyes  fol- 
lowed them.  One  brought  the  long  knife,  and  one  brought 
rum.  They  were  more  than  the  pines  on  the  mountains, 
and  they  broke  up  the  councils,  and  took  the  lands.  Hie 
evil  spirit  was  in  their  jugs,  and  they  let  him  loose.  Yes  >es 
—you  say  no  lie,  Young  Eagle;  John  is  a  Christian  beast. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


171 


"  Forgive  me,  old  warrior/'  cried  the  youth,  grasping 
his  hand:  "I  should  be  the  last  to  reproach  you.  The 
curses  of  Heaven  light  on  the  cupidity  that  has  destroyed 
such  a  race.  Remember,  J ohn,  that  I  am  of  your  family, 
and  it  is  now  my  greatest  pride." 

The  muscles  of  Mohegan  relaxed  a  little,  and  he  said, 
more  mildly, — 

"  You  are  a  Delaware,  my  son;  your  words  are  not  heard; 
John  cannot  shoot." 

"  I  thought  that  lad  had  Indian  blood  in  him,"  whispered 
Richard,  "  by  the  awkward  way  he  handled  my  horses  last 
night.  You  see,  coz,  they  never  use  harness.  But  the 
poor  fellow  shall  have  two  shots  at  the  turkey,  if  he  wants 
it,  for  I'll  give  him  another  shilling  myself ;  though,  per- 
haps, I  had  better  offer  to  shoot  for  him.  They  have  got 
up  their  Christmas  sports,  I  find,  in  the  bushes  yonder, 
where  you  hear  the  laughter;  though  it  is  a  queer  taste 
this  chap  has  for  turkey;  not  but  what  it  is  good  eating, 
too." 

"  Hold,  cousin  Richard,"  exclaimed  Elizabeth,  clinging 
to  his  arm,  "  would  it  be  delicate  to  off er  a  shilling  to  that 
gentleman?" 

"Gentleman  again!  do  you  think  a  half-breed,  like 
him,  will  refuse  money  ?  No,  no,  girl,  he  will  take  the 
shilling;  aye!  and  even  rum  too,  notwithstanding  he 
moralizes  so  much  about  it.  But  Fll  give  the  lad  a  chance 
for  his  turkey,  for  that  Billy  Kirby  is  one  of  the  best 
marksmen  in  the  country;  that  is,  if  we  except  the — the 
gentleman." 

"  Then,"  said  Elizabeth,  who  found  her  strength  unequal 
to  her  will,  "  then,  sir,  I  will  speak."  She  advanced,  with 
an  air  of  determination,  in  front  of  her  cousin,  and  en- 
tered the  little  circle  of  bushes  that  surrounded  the  trio  of 
hunters.  Her  appearance  startled  the  youth,  who  at  first 
made  an  unequivocal  motion  towards  retiring,  but,  recol- 
lecting himself,  bowed,  by  lifting  his  cap,  and  resumed 
his  attitude  of  leaning  on  his  rifle.  Neither  Natty  nor 
Mohegan  betrayed  any  emotion,  though  the  appearance  of 
Elizabeth  was  so  entirely  unexpected. 

" I  find,"  she  said,  "that  the  old  Christmas  sport  of 
shooting  the  turkey  is  yet  in  use  among  you.  I  feel  in- 
clined to  try  my  chance  for  a  bird.  Which  of  you  will 
take  this  money,  and,  after  paying  my  fee,  give  me  the 
aid  of  his  rifle  ?-" 


I72  THE  PIONEERS. 

"Is  this  a  sport  for  a  lady?"  exclaimed  the  young 
hunter,  with  an  emphasis  that  could  not  well  be  mistaken, 
and  with  a  rapidity  that  showed  he  spoke  without  consult- 
ing anything  but  feeling.  ,     . '  .  n  i 

"  Why  not,  sir  ?  If  it  be  inhuman,  the  sin  is  not  confined 
to  one  sex  only.  But  I  have  my  humor  as  well  as  others 
I  ask  not  your  assistance;  but  "-turning  to  Natty  and 
dropping  a  dollar  in  his  hand-"  this  old  veteran  of  the 
forest  will  not  be  so  ungallant  as  to  refuse  one  fire  for  a 

^Leather-Stocking  dropped  the  money  into  his  pouch, 
and  throwing  up  the  end  of  his  rifle  he  freshened  his 
priming;  and,  first  laughing  in  his  usual  manner,  he  threw 
the  piece  over  his  shoulder,  and  said,— 

"If  Billy  Kirby  don't  get  the  bird  before  me,  and  the 
Frenchman's  powder  don't  hang  fire  this  damp  morning, 
you'll  see  as  fine  a  turkey  dead,  in  a  few  minutes,  as  ever 
was  eaten  in  the  Judge's  shanty.  I  have  knowed  the  Dutch 
women,  on  the  Mohawk  and  Schoharie  count  greatly  on 
coming  to  the  merry-makings ;  and  so,  lad,  you  shouldnt 
be  short  with  the  lady.  Come,  let  us  go  forward,  for  if  we 
wait,  the  finest  bird  will  be  gone."  ■ 

"But  I  have  a  right  before  you,  Natty,  and  shall  try  my 
own  luck  first.  You  will  excuse  me,  Miss  Temple;  I  have 
much  reason  to  wish  that  bird,  and  may  seem  ungallant, 
but  I  must  claim  my  privileges."  . 

"  Claim  anything  that  is  justly  your  own,  sir  returned 
the  lady;  "we  are  both  adventurers;  and  this  is  my 
knight.  I  trust  my  fortune  to  his  hand  and  eye.  Lead  on, 
Sir  Leather-Stocking,  and  we  will  follow." 

Natty,  who  seemed  pleased  with  the  frank  address  of 
the  young  and  beauteous  Elizabeth,  who  had  so  singularly 
intrusted  him  with  such  a  commission,  returned  the  bright 
smile  with  which  she  had  addressed  him  by  his  own  pecu- 
liar mark  of  mirth,  and  moved  across  the  snow,  towards 
the  spot  whence  the  sounds  of  boisterous  mirth  proceeded, 
with  the  long  strides  of  a  hunter.  His  companions  fol- 
lowed in  silence,  the  youth  casting  frequent  and  uneasy 
glances  towards  Elizabeth,  who  was  detained  by  a  motion 

fr0II  Soulddthink,  Miss  Temple,"  he  said,  so  soon  as  the 
others  were  out  of  hearing,  "  that  if  you  really  wished  a 
turkey,  you  would  not  have  taken  a  stranger  for  the  office 
and  such  a  one  as  Leather-Stocking.    But  I  can  hardly 


THE  PIONEERS. 


173 


believe  that  you  are  serious,  for  I  have  fifty  at  this  moment 
shut  up  in  the  coops,  in  every  stage  of  fat,  so  that  you 
might  choose  any  quality  you  pleased.  There  are  six  that 
I  am  trying  an  experiment  on,  by  giving  them  brick-bats 
with  "— 

"Enough,  cousin  Dickon,"  interrupted  the  lady;  "I  do 
wish  the  bird,  and  it  is  because  1  so  wish,  that  I  commis- 
sioned this  Mr.  Leather-Stocking." 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  of  the  great  shot  that  I  made  at  the 
wolf,  cousin  Elizabeth,  who  was  carrying  off  your  father's 
sheep  ?  "  said  Richard,  drawing  himself  up  with  an  air  of 
displeasure.  "  He  had  the  sheep  on  his  back ;  and  had  the 
head  of  the  wolf  been  on  the  other  side,  I  should  have 
killed  him  dead;  as  it  was" — 

"  You  killed  the  sheep,— I  know  it  all,  dear  coz.  But 

would  it  have  been  decorous  for  the  High  Sheriff  of  to 

mingle  in  such  sports  as  these  ?  " 

"  Surely  you  did  not  think  that  I  intended  actually  to 
fire  with  my  own  hands?"  said  Mr.  Jones.  "But  let  us 
follow,  and  see  the  shooting.  There  is  no  fear  of  anything 
unpleasant  occurring  to  a  female  in  this  new  country, 
especially  to  your  father's  daughter,  and  in  my  presence." 

"  My  father's  daughter  fears  nothing,  sir,  more  especially 
when  escorted  by  the  highest  executive  officer  in  the 
county." 

She  took  his  arm,  and  he  led  her  through  the  mazes  of 
the  bushes  to  the  spot  where  most  of  the  young  men  of  the 
village  were  collected  for  the  sports  of  shooting  a  Christ- 
mas match,  and  whither  Natty  and  his  companions  had 
already  preceded  them. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

I  guess,  by  all  this  quaint  array, 

The  burghers  hold  their  sports  to-day. 

Scott. 

The  ancient  amusement  of  shooting  the  Christmas 
turkey  is  one  of  the  few  sports  that  the  settlers  of  a  new 
country  seldom  or  never  neglect  to  observe.  It  was  con- 
nected with  the  daily  practices  of  a  people  who  often  laid 
aside  the  axe  or  the  scythe  to  seize  the  rifle,  as  the  deer 
glided  through  the  forests  they  were  felling,  or  the  bear 


174 


THE  PIONEERS. 


entered  their  rough  meadows  to  scent  the  air  of  a  clearing, 
and  to  scan  with  a  look  of  sagacity,  the  progress  of  the 
invader. 

On  the  present  occasion,  the  usual  amusement  of  the 
day  had  been  a  little  hastened,  in  order  to  allow  a  fair  op- 
portunity to  Mr.  Grant,  whose  exhibition  was  not  less  a 
treat  to  the  young  sportsmen,  than  the  one  which  engaged 
their  present  attention.  The  owner  of  the  bird  was  a  free 
black,  who  had  prepared  for  the  occasion  a  collection  of 
game  that  was  admirably  qualified  to  inflame  the  appetite 
of  an  epicure,  and  was  well  adapted  to  the  means  and  skill 
of  the  different  competitors,  who  were  of  all  ages.  He  had 
offered  to  the  younger  and  more  humble  marskmen  divers 
birds  of  an  inferior  quality,  and  some  shooting  had  already 
taken  place,  much  to  the  pecuniary  advantage  of  the  sable 
owner  of  the  game.  The  order  of  the  sports  was  extremely 
simple,  and  well  understood.  The  bird  was  fastened  by  a 
string  to  the  stump  of  a  large  pine,  the  side  of  which, 
towards  the  point  where  the  marksmen  were  placed,  had 
been  flattened  with  an  axe,  in  order  that  it  might  serve 
the  purpose  of  a  target  by  which  the  merit  of  each  indi- 
vidual might  be  ascertained.  The  distance  between  the 
stump  and  shooting-stand  was  one  hundred  measured 
yards :  a  foot  more  or  a  foot  less  being  thought  an  invasion 
of  the  right  of  one  of  the  parties.  The  negro  affixed  his 
own  price  to  every  bird,  and  the  terms  of  the  chance ;  but 
when  these  were  once  established,  he  was  obliged  by  the 
strict  principles  of  public  justice  that  prevailed  in  the 
country,  to  admit  any  adventurer  who  might  offer. 

The  throng  consisted  of  some  twenty  or  thirty  young 
men,  most  of  whom  had  rifles,  and  a  collection  of  all  the 
boys  in  the  village.  The  little  urchins,  clad  in  coarse  but 
warm  garments,  stood  gathered  around  the  more  distin- 
guished marskmen,  with  their  hands  stuck  under  their 
waistbands,  listening  eagerly  to  the  boastful  stories  of  skill 
that  had  been  exhibited  on  former  occasions,  and  were 
already  emulating  in  their  hearts  these  wonderful  deeds 
in  gunnery. 

The  chief  speaker  was  the  man  who  had  been  mentioned 
by  Natty  as  Billy  Kirby.  This  fellow,  whose  occupation, 
when  he  did  labor,  was  that  of  clearing  lands,  or  chopping 
iobs,  was  of  great  stature,  and  carried,  in  his  very  air,  the 
index  of  his  character.  He  was  a  noisy,  boisterous,  reck- 
less lad,  whose  good-natured  eye  contradicted  the  blunt- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


175 


ness  and.  bullying  tenor  of  his  speech.  For  weeks  he  would 
lounge  around  the  taverns  of  the  county,  in  a  state  of  per- 
fect idleness,  or  doing  small  jobs  for  his  liquor  and  his 
meals,  and  caviling  with  applicants  about  the  prices  of  his 
labor :  frequently  preferring  idleness  to  an  abatement  of 
a  tittle  of  his  independence,  or  a  cent  in  his  wages.  But 
when  these  embarrassing  points  were  satisfactorily  ar- 
ranged, he  would  shoulder  his  axe  and  his  rifle,  slip  his 
arms  through  the  straps  of  his  pack,  and  enter  the  woods 
with  the  tread  of  a  Hercules.  His  first  object  was  to  learn 
his  limits,  round  which  he  would  pace,  occasionally  fresh- 
ening, with  a  blow  of  his  axe,  the  marks  on  the  boundary 
trees;  and  then  he  would  proceed  with  an  air  of  great 
deliberation,  to  the  centre  of  his  premises,  and,  throwing 
aside  his  superfluous  garments,  measure,  with  a  knowing 
eye,  one  or  two  of  the  nearest  trees  that  were  towering  ap- 
parently into  the  very  clouds  as  he  gazed  upwards.  Com- 
monly selecting  one  of  the  most  noble  for  the  first  trial  of 
his  power,  he  would  approach  it  with  a  listless  air,  whistling 
a  low  tune  and  wielding  his  axe  with  a  certain  flourish, 
not  unlike  the  salutes  of  a  fencing  master,  he  would  strike 
a  li^ht  blow  into  the  bark,  and  measure  his  distance.  The 
pause  that  followed  was  ominous  of  the  fall  of  the  forest 
which  had  flourished  there  for  centuries.  The  heavy  and 
brisk  blows  that  he  struck  were  soon  succeeded  by  the 
thundering  report  of  the  tree,  as  it  came,  first  cracking 
and  threatening,  with  the  separation  of  its  own  last  liga- 
ments, then  threshing  and  tearing  with  its  branches  the 
tops  of  its  surrounding  brethren,  and  finally  meeting  the 
ground  with  a  shock  but  little  inferior  to  an  earthquake. 
From  that  moment  the  sounds  of  the  axe  were  ceaseless, 
while  the  falling  of  the  trees  was  like  a  distant  cannon- 
ading; and  the  daylight  broke  into  the  depths  of  the 
woods  with  the  suddenness  of  a  winter  morning. 

For  days,  weeks,  nay  months,  Billy  Kirby  would  toil 
with  an  ardor  that  evinced  his  native  spirit,  and  with  an 
effect  that  seemed  magical,  until,  his  chopping  being 
ended,  his  stentorian  lungs  could  be  heard  emitting 
sounds,  as  he  called  to  his  patient  oxen,  which  rang 
through  the  hills  like  the  cries  of  an  alarm.  He  had  been 
often  heard,  on  a  mild  summer's  evening,  a  long  mile 
across  the  vale  of  Templeton ;  when  the  echoes  from  the 
mountains  would  take  up  his  cries,  until  they  died  away 
in  feeble  sounds  from  the  distant  rocks  that  overhung  the 


176 


THE  PIONEERS. 


lake.  His  piles,  or  to  use  the  language  of  the  country,  his 
logging,  ended,  with  a  despatch  that  could  only  accompany 
his  dexterity  and  Herculean  strength,  the  jobber  would 
collect  together  his  implements  of  labor,  light  the  heaps  of 
timber,  and  march  away  under  the  blaze  of  the  prostrate 
forest,  like  the  conqueror  of  some  city,  who,  having  first 
prevailed  over  his  adversary,  applies  the  torch  as  the 
finishing  blow  to  his  conquest.  For  a  long  time  Billy 
Kirby  would  then  be  seen,  sauntering  around  the  taverns, 
the  rider  of  scrub-races,  the  bully  of  cock-fights,  and  not 
unfrequently  the  hero  of  such  sports  as  the  one  in  hand. 

Between  him  and  the  Leather-Stocking,  there  had  long 
existed  a  jealous  rivalry  on  the  point  of  skill  with  the  rifle. 
Notwithstanding  the  long  practice  of  Natty,  it  was  com- 
monly supposed  that  the  steady  nerves  and  quick  eye  of 
the  wood-chopper  rendered  him  his  equal.  The  competi- 
tion had,  however,  been  confined  hitherto  to  boastings,  and 
comparisons  made  from  their  success  in  various  hunting 
excursions;  but  this  was  the  first  time  that  they  had  ever 
come  in  open  collision.  A  good  deal  of  higgling  about  the 
price  of  the  choicest  bird  had  taken  place  between  Billy 
Kirby  and  its  owner  before  Natty  and  his  companions 
rejoined  the  sportsmen.  It  had,  however,  been  settled  at 
one  shilling 1  a  shot,  which  was  the  highest  sum  ever  ex- 
acted, the  black  taking  care  to  protect  himself  from  losses 
as  much  as  possible,  by  the  conditions  of  the  sport.  The 
turkey  was  already  fastened  at  the  "  mark/'  but  its  body 
was  entirely  hid  by  the  surrounding  snow,  nothing  being 
visible  but  its  red  swelling  head  and  its  long  neck.  If  the 
bird  was  injured  by  any  bullet  that  struck  below  the  snow, 
it  was  to  continue  the  property  of  its  present  owner;  but 
if  a  feather  was  touched  in  a  visible  part,  the  animal  be- 
came the  prize  of  the  successful  adventurer. 

These  terms  were  loudly  proclaimed  by  the  negro,  who 
was  seated  in  the  snow,  in  a  somewhat  hazardous  vicinity 
to  his  favorite  bird,  when  Elizabeth  and  her  cousin  ap- 
proached the  noisy  sportsmen.  The  sounds  of  mirth  and 
contention  sensibly  lowered  at  this  unexpected  visit ;  but, 
after  a  moment's  pause,  the  curious  interest  exhibited  in 
the  face  of  the  young  lady,  together  with  her  smiling  air, 

1  Before  the  Revolution,  each  province  had  its  own  money  of  account,  though 
neither  coined  any  but  copper  pieces.  In  New  York  the  Spanish  dollar  was  di- 
vided into  eight  shillings,  each  of  the  value  of  a  fraction  more  than  sixpence  ster- 
ling. At  present  the  Union  has  provided  a  decimal  system  with  coins  to  repre- 
sent it. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


177 


restored  the  freedom  of  the  morning;  though  it  was  some- 
what chastened,  both  in  language  and  vehemence,  by  the 
presence  of  such  a  spectator. 

"  Stand  out  of  the  way  there,  boys !  "  cried  the  wood- 
chopper,  who  was  placing  himself  at  the  shooting  point, 
"  stand  out  of  the  way,  you  little  rascals,  or  I  will  shoot 
through  you.    Now,  Brom,  take  leave  of  your  turkey." 

"  Stop ! "  cried  the  young  hunter;  "lama  candidate  for 
a  chance.    Here  is  my  shilling,  Brom ;  I  wish  a  shot  too." 

"  You  may  wish  it  in  welcome,"  cried  Kirby  "  but  if  1 
ruffle  the  gobbler's  feathers,  how  are  you  to  get  it  ?  Is 
money  so  plenty  in  your  deerskin  pocket,  that  you  pay  for 
a  chance  that  you  may  never  have  ?  " 

"  How  know  you,  sir,  how  plenty  money  is  in  my  pocket  ?  " 
said  the  youth  fiercely.  "  Here  is  my  shilling,  Brom,  and 
I  claim  a  right  to  shoot." 

"  Don't  be  crabbed,  my  boy,"  said  the  other,  who  was 
very  coolly  fixing  his  flint.  "  They  say  you  have  a  hole  in 
your  left  shoulder,  yourself :  so  I  think  Brom  may  give 
you  a  fire  for  half  price.  It  will  take  a  keen  one  to  hit 
that  bird,  I  can  tell  you,  my  lad,  even  if  I  give  you  a 
chance,  which  is  what  I  have  no  mind  to  do." 

«  Don't  be  boasting,  Billy  Kirby,"  said  Natty,  throwing 
the  breech  of  his  rifle  into  the  snow,  and  leaning  on  its 
barrel;  "you'll  get  but  one  shot  at  the  creatur',  for  if  the 
lad  misses  his  aim,  which  wouldn't  be  a  wonder  if  he  did, 
with  his  arm  so  stilf  and  sore,  you'll  find  a  good  piece  and 
an  old  eye  coming  a'ter  you.  Maybe  it's  true  that  I  can't 
shoot  as  I  used  to  could,  but  a  hundred  yards  is  a  short  dis- 
tance for  a  long  rifle." 

"What,  old  Leather-Stocking,  are  you  out  this  morn- 
ing ?  "  cried  his  reckless  opponent.  "  Well,  fair  play's  a 
jewel.  I've  the  lead  of  you,  old  fellow ;  so  here  goes  for  a 
dry  throat  or  a  good  dinner." 

The  countenance  of  the  negro  evinced  not  only  all  the 
interest  which  his  pecuniary  adventure  might  occasion, 
but  also  the  keen  excitement  that  the  sport  produced  in 
the  others,  though  with  a  very  different  wish  as  to  the 
result.  While  the  wood-chopper  was  slowly  and  steadily 
raising  his  rifle,  he  bawled, — 

«  Fair  play,  Billy  Kirby — stand  back — make  'em  stand 
back, boys— gib  a  nigger  fair  play;  poss-up,  gobbler;  shake 
a  head,  fool;  don't  you  see  'em  taking  aim  ? " 

These  cries,  which  were  intended  as  much  to  distract 


178 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  attention  of  the  marksman  as  for  anything  else,  were 
fruitless. 

The  nerves  of  the  wood-chopper  were  not  so  easily 
shaken,  and  he  took  his  aim  with  the  utmost  deliberation. 
Stillness  prevailed  for  a  moment,  and  he  fired.  The  head 
of  the  turkey  was  seen  to  dash  on  one  side,  and  its  wings 
were  spread  in  momentary  fluttering;  but  it  settled  itself 
down  calmly  into  its  bed  of  snow,  and  glanced  its  eyes 
uneasily  around.  For  a  time  long  enough  to  draw  a  deep 
breath,  not  a  sound  was  heard.  The  silence  was  then  broken 
by  the  noise  of  the  negro,  who  laughed,  and  shook  his 
body,  with  all  kinds  of  antics,  rolling  over  in  the  snow  in 
the  excess  of  delight. 

"Well  done  a  gobbler,"  he  cried,  jumping  up  and  affect- 
ing to  embrace  his  bird;  "I  tell  'em  to  poss-up,  and  you 
see  'em  dodge.  Gib  anoder  shillin,  Billy,  and  nab  anoder 
shot." 

"  No — the  shot  is  mine,"  said  the  young  hunter ;  "  you 
have  my  money  already.  Leave  the  mark,  and  let  me  try 
my  luck." 

"Ah !  it's  but  money  thrown  away,  lad,"  said  Leather- 
Stocking.  "A  turkey's  head  and  neck  is  but  a  small  mark 
for  a  new  hand  and  a  lame  shoulder.  You'd  best  let  me 
take  the  fire,  and  maybe  we  can  make  some  settlement 
with  the  lady  about  the  bird." 

"  The  chance  is  mine,"  said  the  young  hunter.  "  Clear 
the  ground,  that  I  may  take  it." 

The  discussions  and  disputes  concerning  the  last  shot 
were  now  abating,  it  having  been  determined  that  if  the 
turkey's  head  had  been  anywhere  but  just  where  it  was  at 
the  moment,  the  bird  must  certainly  have  been  killed. 
There  was  not  much  excitement  produced  by  the  prepara- 
tions of  the  youth,  who  proceeded  in  a  hurried  manner  to 
take  his  aim,  and  was  in  the  act  of  pulling  the  trigger, 
when  he  was  stopped  by  Natty. 

"Your  hand  shakes,  lad,"  he  said,  "and  you  seem  over 
eager.  Bullet  wounds  are  apt  to  weaken  flesh,  and  to  my 
judgment,  you'll  not  shoot  so  well  as  in  common.  If 
you  will  fire,  you  should  shoot  quick,  before  there  is  time 
to  shake  off  the  aim." 

"  Fair  play,"  again  shouted  the  negro ;  "  fair  play — gib 
a  nigger  fair  play.  What  right  a  Nat  Bumppo  advise  a 
young  man  ?    Let  'em  shoot — clear  a  ground." 

The  youth  fired  with  great  rapidity,  but  no  motion  was 


THE  PIONEERS. 


179 


made  by  the  turkey ;  and  when  the  examiners  for  the  ball 
returned  from  the  "mark/'  they  declared  that  he  had 
missed  the  stump. 

Elizabeth  observed  the  change  in  his  countenance,  and 
could  not  help  feeling  surprise,  that  one  so  evidently  su- 
perior to  his  companions  should  feel  a  trifling  loss  so.  sensi- 
bly. But  her  own  champion  was  now  preparing  to  enter 
the  lists. 

The  mirth  of  Brom,  which  had  been  again  excited, 
though  in  a  much  smaller  degree  than  before,  by  the  failure 
of  the  second  adventurer,  vanished  the  instant  Natty  took 
his  stand.  His  skin  became  mottled  with  large  brown 
spots,  that  fearfully  sullied  the  lustre  of  his  native  ebony, 
while  his  enormous  lips  gradually  compressed  around  two 
rows  of  ivory  that  had  hitherto  been  shining  in  his  visage, 
like  pearls  set  in  jet.  His  nostrils,  at  all  times  the  most 
conspicuous  features  of  his  face,  dilated,  until  they  cov- 
ered the  greater  part  of  the  diameter  of  his  countenance ; 
while  his  brown  and  bony  hands  unconsciously  grasped  the 
snow-crust  near  him,  the  excitement  of  the  moment  com- 
pletely overcoming  his  native  dread  of  cold. 

While  these  indications  of  apprehension  were  exhibited 
in  the  sable  owner  of  the  turkey,  the  man  who  gave  rise 
to  this  extraordinary  emotion  was  as  calm  and  collected  as 
if  there  was  not  to  be  a  single  spectator  of  his  skill. 

"  I  was  down  in  the  Dutch  settlements  on  the  Schoharie," 
said  Natty,  carefully  removing  the  leather  guard  from  the 
lock  of  his  rifle,  "  just  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  last 
war,  and  there  was  a  shooting-match  among  the  boys ;  so  I 
took  a  hand.  I  think  I  opened  a  good  many  Dutch  eyes 
that  day;  for  I  won  the  powder-horn,  three  bars  of  lead, 
and  a  pound  of  as  good  powder  as  ever  flashed  in  pan. 
Lord!  how  they  did  swear  in  Garman!  They  did  tell  me 
of  one  drunken  Dutchman  who  said  he'd  have  the  life  of 
me  before  I  got  back  to  the  lake  ag'in.  But  if  he  had  put 
his  rifle  to  his  shoulder  with  evil  intent,  God  would  have 
punished  him  for  it;  and  even  if  the  Lord  didn't,  and  he 
had  missed  his  aim,  I  know  one  that  would  have  given  him 
as  good  as  he  sent,  and  better  too,  if  good  shooting  could 
come  into  the  'count." 

By  this  time  the  old  hunter  was  ready  for  his  business, 
and  throwing  his  right  leg  far  behind  him,  and  stretching 
his  left  arm  along  the  barrel  of  his  piece,  he  raised  it 
towards  the  bird.    Every  eye  glanced  rapidly  from  the 


i8o 


THE  PIONEERS. 


marskman  to  the  mark;  but  at  the  moment  when  each 
ear  was  expecting  the  report  of  the  rifle,  they  were  disap- 
pointed by  the  ticking  sound  of  the  flint. 

"A  snap,  a  snap ! "  shouted  the  negro,  springing  from 
his  crouching  posture  like  a  madman,  before  his  bird.  "A 
snap  good  as  fire— Natty  Bumppo  gun  he  snap— Natty 
Bumppo  miss  a  turkey ! n 

"  Natty  Bumppo  hit  a  nigger,"  said  the  indignant  old 
hunter,  "  if  you  don't  get  out  of  the  way,  Brom.  It's  con- 
trary to  the  reason  of  the  thing,  boy,  that  a  snap  should 
count  for  a  fire,  when  one  is  nothing  more  than  a  fire- 
stone  striking  a  steel  pan,  and  the  other  is  sudden  death; 
so  get  out  of  my  way,  boy,  and  let  me  show  Billy  Kirby 
how  to  shoot  a  Christmas  turkey." 

"  Gib  a  nigger  fair  play !  "  cried  the  black,  who  continued 
resolutely  to  maintain  his  post,  and  making  that  appeal 
to  the  justice  of  his  auditors,  which  the  degraded  condition 
of  his  caste  so  naturally  suggested.  "  Eberybody  know 
dat  snap  as  good  as  fire.  Leab  it  to  Massa  J  one— leab  it 
to  lady." 

"Sartain,"  said  the  wood-chopper;  "it's  the  law  of  the 
game  in  this  part  of  the  country,  Leather-Stocking.  If 
you  fire  ag'in  you  must  pay  up  the  other  shilling.  I  b'lieve 
I'll  try  luck  once  more  myself;  so,  Brom,  here's  my  money, 
and  I  take  the  next  fire." 

"  It's  likely  you  know  the  laws  of  the  woods  better  than 
I  do,  Billy  Kirby,"  returned  Natty.  "You  come  in  with 
the  settlers,  with  an  ox-goad  in  your  hand,  and  I  come  in 
with  moccasins  on  my  feet,  and  with  a  good  rifle  on  my 
shoulders,  so  long  back  as  afore  the  old  war.  Which  is 
likely  to  know  the  best  ?  I  say  no  man  need  tell  me  that 
snapping  is  as  good  as  firing  when  I  pull  the  trigger." 

"Leab  it  to  Massa  Jone,"  said  the  alarmed  negro;  "he 
know  eberyting." 

This  appeal  to  the  knowledge  of  Richard  was  too  flatter- 
ing to  be  unheeded.  He  therefore  advanced  a  little  from 
the  spot  whither  the  delicacy  of  Elizabeth  had  induced 
her  to  withdraw,  and  gave  the  following  opinion,  with  the 
gravity  that  the  subject  and  his  own  rank  demanded:— _ 

"  There  seems  to  be  a  difference  in  opinion,"  he  said, 
"on  the  subject  of  Nathaniel  Bumppo's  right  to  shoot  at 
Abraham  Freeborn's  turkey,  without  the  said  Nathaniel 
paying  one  shilling  for  the  privilege."  This  fact  was  too 
evident  to  be  denied,  and  after  pausing  a  moment,  that 


THE  PIONEERS. 


i8r 


the  audience  might  digest  his  premises,  Kichard  proceeded. 
"  It  seems  proper  that  I  should  decide  this  question,  as  I 
am  hound  to  preserve  the  peace  of  the  county;  and  men 
with  deadly  weapons  in  their  hands  should  not  he  heed- 
lessly left  to  contention,  and  their  own  malignant  passions. 
It  appears  that  there  was  no  agreement,  either  in  writing  or 
in  words,  on  the  disputed  point ;  therefore  we  must  reason 
from  analogy,  which  is,  as  it  were,  comparing  one  thing 
with  another.  Now,  in  duels,  where  both  parties  shoot,  it 
is  generally  the  rule  that  a  snap  is  a  fire;  and  if  such  is 
the  rule,  where  the  party  has  a  right  to  fire  back  again, 
it  seems  to  me  unreasonable  to  say,  that  a  man  may  stand 
snapping  at  a  defenseless  turkey  all  day.  I  therefore  am 
of  opinion  that  Nathaniel  Bumppo  has  lost  his  chance,  and 
must  pay  another  shilling  before  he  renews  his  right." 

As  this  opinion  came  from  so  high  a  quarter,  and  was 
delivered  with  effect,  it  silenced  all  murmurs — for  the 
whole  of  the  spectators  had  begun  to  take  sides  with  great 
warmth, — except  from  the  Leather-Stocking  himself. 

"  I  think  Miss  Elizabeth's  thoughts  should  be  taken," 
said  Natty.  "  Fve  known  the  squaws  give  very  good  coun- 
sel when  the  Indians  have  been  dumfounded.  If  she  says 
that  I  ought  to  lose,  I  agree  to  give  it  up." 

"  Then  I  adjudge  you  to  be  a  loser  for  this  time,"  said 
Miss  Temple;  "but  pay  your  money  and  renew  your 
chance;  unless  Brom  will  sell  me  the  bird  for  a  dollar.  I 
will  give  him  the  money,  and  save  the  life  of  the  poor 
victim." 

This  proposition  was  evidently  but  little  relished  by  any 
of  the  listeners,  even  the  negro  feeling  the  evil  excitement 
of  the  chances.  In  the  meanwhile,  as  Billy  Kirby  was 
preparing  himself  for  another  shot,  Natty  left  the  stand, 
with  an  extremely  dissatisfied  manner,  muttering, — 

"  There  hasn't  been  such  a  thing  as  a  good  flint  sold  at 
the  foot  of  the  lake  since  the  Indian  traders  used  to  come 
into  the  country;  and  if  a  body  should  go  into  the-  flats 
along  the  streams  in  the  hills  to  hunt  for  such  a  thing,  it's 
ten  to  one  but  they  will  be  all  covered  up  with  the  plough. 
Heigho !  it  seems  to  me  that  just  as  the  game  grows  scarce, 
and  a  body  wants  the  best  ammunition  to  get  a  livelihood, 
everything  that's  bad  falls  on  him,  like  a  judgment.  But 
I'll  change  the  stone,  for  Billy  Kirby  hasn't  the  eye  for 
such  a  mark,  I  know." 

The  wood-chopper  seemed  now  entirely  sensible  that 


THE  PIONEERS. 


his  reputation  depended  on  his  care ;  nor  did  he  neglect 
any  means  to  insure  success.  He  drew  up  his  rifle,  and 
renewed  his  aim  again  and  again,  still  appearing  reluctant 
to  fire.  No  sound  was  heard  from  even  Brom,  during  these 
portentous  movements,  until  Kirby  discharged  his  piece, 
with  the  same  want  of  success  as  before.  Then,  indeed, 
the  shouts  of  the  negro  rang  through  the  bushes,  and 
sounded  among  the  trees  of  the  neighboring  forest  like 
the  outcries  of  a  tribe  of  Indians.  He  laughed,  rolling  his 
head  first  on  one  side,  then  on  the  other,  until  nature 
seemed  exhausted  with  mirth.  He  danced  until  his  legs 
were  wearied  with  motion,  in  the  snow;  and,  in  short,  he 
exhibited  all  that  violence  of  joy  that  characterizes  the 
mirth  of  a  thoughtless  negro. 

The  wood-chopper  had  exerted  all  his  art,  and  felt  a 
proportionate  degree  of  disappointment  at  the  failure.  He 
first  examined  the  bird  with  the  utmost  attention,  and 
more  than  once  suggested  that  he  had  touched  its  feathers ; 
but  the  voice  of  the  multitude  was  against  him,  for  it  felt 
disposed  to  listen  to  the  often  repeated  cries  of  the  black, 
to  "  Gib  a  nigger  fair  play." 

Finding  it  impossible  to  make  out  a  title  to  the  b.rd, 
Kirby  turned  fiercely  to  the  black,  and  said, — 

"  Shut  your  oven,  you  crow !  Where  is  the  man  that  can 
hit  a  turkey's  head  at  a  hundred  yards  ?  I  was  a  fool  for 
trying.  You  needn't  make  an  uproar,  like  a  falling  pine- 
tree,  about  it.    Show  me  the  man  who  can  do  it." 

"  Look  this-away,  Billy  Kirby,"  said  Leather-Stocking, 
"  and  let  them  clear  the  mark,  and  I'll  show  you  a  man 
who's  made  better  shots  afore  now,  and  that  when  he's 
been  hard  pressed  by  the  savages  and  wild  beasts." 

"Perhaps  there  is  one  whose  rights  come  before  ours, 
Leather-Stocking,"  said  Miss  Temple;  "  if  so,  we  will  waive 
our  privilege." 

"  If  it  be  me  that  you  have  reference  to,"  said  the  young 
hunter,  "  I  shall  decline  another  chance.  My  shoulder  is 
yet  weak,  I  find." 

Elizabeth  regarded  his  manner,  and  thought  that  she 
could  discern  a  tinge  on  his  cheek  that  spoke  the  shame 
of  conscious  poverty.  She  said  no  more,  but  suffered  her 
own  champion  to  make  a  trial.  Although  Natty  Bumppo 
had  certainly  made  hundreds  of  more  momentous  shots  at 
his  enemies  or  his  game,  yet  he  never  exerted  himself 
more  to  excel.    He  raised  his  piece  three  several  times; 


THE  PIONM&RS. 


Once  to  get  his  range;  once  to  calculate  his  distance;  and 
once  because  the  bird,  alarmed  by  the  death-like  stillness, 
turned  its  head  quickly  to  examine  its  foes.  But  the 
fourth  time  he  fired.  The  smoke,  the  report,  and  the 
momentary  shock,  prevented  most  of  the  spectators  from 
instantly  knowing  the  result;  but  Elizabeth,  when  she  saw 
her  champion  drop  the  end  of  his  rifle  in  the  snow  and 
open  his  mouth  in  one  of  its  silent  laughs,  and  then  pro- 
ceed very  coolly  to  recharge  his  piece,  knew  that  he 
had  been  successful.  The  boys  rushed  to  the  mark,  and 
lifted  the  turkey  on  high,  lifeless,  and  with  nothing  but 
the  remnant  of  a  head. 

"  Bring  in  the  creatur',"  said  Leather-Stocking,  "  and 
put  it  at  the  feet  of  the  lady.  I  was  her  deputy  in  the 
matter,  and  the  bird  is  her  property." 

"And  a  good  deputy  you  have  proved  yourself,"  re- 
turned Elizabeth;  "so  good,  cousin  Eichard,  that  I  would 
advise  you  to  remember  his  qualities."  She  paused,  and 
the  gayety  that  beamed  on  her  face  gave  place  to  a  more 
serious  earnestness.  She  even  blushed  a  little  as  she 
turned  to  the  young  hunter,  and,  with  the  charm  of  a 
woman's  manner,  added,  "  But  it  was  only  to  see  an  exhibi- 
tion of  the  far-famed  skill  of  Leather-Stocking,  that  I 
tried  my  fortunes.  Will  you,  sir,  accept  the  bird  as  a 
small  peace-offering  for  the  hurt  that  prevented  your  own 
success  ?  " 

i  The  expression  with  which  the  youth  received  this 
present  was  indescribable.  He  appeared  to  yield  to  the 
blandishment  of  her  air,  in  opposition  to  a  strong  inward 
impulse  to  the  contrary.  He  bowed,  and  raised  the  victim 
silently  from  her  feet,  but  continued  silent. 

Elizabeth  handed  the  black  a  piece  of  silver  as  a  remu- 
neration for  his  loss,  which  had  some  effect  in  again  unbend- 
ing his  muscles,  and  then  expressed  to  her  companion  her 
readiness  to  return  homeward. 

"Wait  a  minute,  cousin  Bess,"  cried  Eichard;  "there 
is  an  uncertainty  about  the  rules  of  this  sport  that  it  is 
proper  I  should  remove.  If  you  will  appoint  a  committee, 
gentlemen,  to  wait  on  me  this  morning,  I  will  draw  up  m 
writing  a  set  of  regulations  "—he  stopped,  with  some  in- 
dignation, for  at  that  instant  a  hand  was  laid  familiarly  on 
the  shoulder  of  the  High  Sheriff  of  

"A  Merry  Christmas  to  you,  cousin  Dickon,"  said  Judge 
Temple,  who  had  approached  the  party  unperceived :  "  I 


184 


THE  PIONEERS. 


must  have  a  vigilant  eye  to  my  daughter,  sir,  if  you  are  to 
be  seized  daily  with  these  gallant  fits.  I  admire  the  taste 
which  would  introduce  a  lady  to  such  scenes!  " 

"It  is  her  own  perversity,  'Duke,"  cried  the  disapponted 
Sheriff,  who  felt  the  loss  of  the  first  salutation  as  griev- 
ously as  many  a  man  would  a  much  greater  misfortune; 
"and  I  must  say  that  she  comes  honestly  by  it.  I  led  her 
out  to  show  her  the  improvements,  but  away  she  scam- 
pered, through  the  snow,  at  the  first  sound  of  fire-arms, 
the  same  as  if  she  had  been  brought  up  in  a  camp,  instead 
of  a  first  rate  boarding-school.  I  do  think,  Judge  Temple, 
that  such  dangerous  amusements  should  be  suppressed  by 
statute;  nay,  I  doubt  whether  they  are  not  already  in- 
dictable at  common  law." 

"  Well,  sir,  as  you  are  Sheriff  of  the  county,  it  becomes 
your  duty  to  examine  into  the  matter,"  returned  the  smil- 
ing Marmaduke.  "I  perceive  that  Bess  has  executed  her 
commission,  and  I  hope  it  met  with  a  favorable  reception." 
Eichard  glanced  his  eye  at  the  packet  which  he  held  in 
his  hand,  and  the  slight  anger  produced  by  disappoint- 
ment vanished  instantly. 

"Ah!  'Duke,  my  dear  cousin,"  he  said,  "  step  a  little  on 
one  side;  I  have  something  I  would  say  to  you."  Mar- 
maduke complied,  and  the  Sheriff  led  him  to  a  little  dis- 
tance in  the  bushes,  and  continued :  "  First,  'Duke,  let  me 
thank  you  for  your  friendly  interest  with  the  Council  and 
the  Governor,  without  which,  I  am  confident  that  the 
greatest  merit  would  avail  but  little.  But  we  are  sisters' 
children— we  are  sisters'  children;  and  you  may  use  me 
like  one  of  your  horses;  ride  me  or  drive  me,  'Duke,  I  am 
wholly  yours.  But  in  my  humble  opinion,  this  young 
companion  of  Leather-Stocking  requires  looking  after. 
He  has  a  very  dangerous  propensity  for  turkey." 

"Leave  him  to  my  management,  Dickon,"  said  the 
Judge,  "  and  I  will  cure  his  appetite  by  indulgence.  It  is 
with  him  that  I  would  speak.  Let  us  rejoin  the  sports- 
men." 


THE  PIONEERS. 


185 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Poor  wretch  !  the  mother  that  him  bare, 
If  she  had  been  in  presence  there, 
In  his  wan  face,  and  sunburnt  hair, 
She  had  not  known  her  child. 

Scott. 

It  diminished,  in  no  degree,  the  effect  produced  by  the 
conversation  which  passed  between  Judge  Temple  and  the 
young  hunter,  that  the  former  took  the  arm  of  his  daugh- 
ter and  drew  it  through  his  own,  when  he  advanced  from 
the  spot  whither  Richard  had  led  him  to  that  where  the 
youth  was  standing,  leaning  on  his  rifle,  and  contemplat- 
ing the  dead  bird  at  his  feet.  The  presence  of  Marmaduke 
did  not  interrupt  the  sports,  which  were  resumed,  by  loud 
and  clamorous  disputes  concerning  the  conditions  of  a 
chance  that  involved  the  life  of  a  bird  of  much  inferior 
quality  to  the  last.  Leather-Stocking  and  Mohegan  had 
alone  drawn  aside  to  their  youthful  companion ;  and,  al- 
though in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  such  a  throng,  the 
following  conversation  was  heard  only  by  those  who  were 
interested  in  it. 

"  I  have  greatly  injured  you,  Mr.  Edwards/'  said  the 
Judge;  but  the  sudden  and  inexplicable  start,  with  which 
the  person  spoken  to  received  this  unexpected  address, 
caused  him  to  pause  a  moment.  As  no  answer  was  given, 
and  the  strong  emotion  exhibited  in  the  countenance  of 
the  youth  gradually  passed  away,  he  continued,  "  But,  for- 
tunately, it  is  in  some  measure  in  my  power  to  compensate 
you  for  what  I  have  done.  My  kinsman,  Richard  J  ones, 
has  received  an  appointment  that  will,  in  future,  deprive 
me  of  his  assistance,  and  leaves  me,  just  now,  destitute  of 
one  who  might  greatly  aid  me  with  his  pen.  #  Your  man- 
ner, notwithstanding  appearances,  is  a  sufficient  proof  of 
your  education,  nor  will  thy  shoulder  suffer  thee  to  labor, 
for  some  time  to  come."  (Marmaduke  insensibly  relapsed 
into  the  language  of  the  Friends  as  he  grew  warm.)  ^  "  My 
doors  are  open  to  thee,  my  young  friend,  for  in  this  infant 
country  we  harbor  no  suspicions :  little  offering  to  tempt 


1 86 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  cupidity  of  the  evil  disposed.  Become  my  assistant, 
for  at  least  a  season,  and  receive  such  compensation  as  thy 
services  will  deserve." 

There  was  nothing  in  the  manner  or  the  offer  of  the 
Judge  to  justify  the  reluctance,  amounting  nearly  to  loath- 
ing, with  which  the  youth  listened  to  his  speech :  but  after 
a  powerful  effort  for  self-command,  he  replied : — 

"  I  would  serve  you,  sir,  or  any  other  man,  for  an  honest 
support,  for  I  do  not  affect  to  conceal  that  my  necessities 
are  very  great,  oven  beyond  what  appearances  would  indi- 
cate; but  I  am  fearful  that  such  new  duties  would  interfere 
too  much  with  more  important  business :  so  that  I  must 
decline  your  offer,  and  depend  on  my  rifle,  as  before,  for 
subsistence." 

Kichard  here  took  occasion  to  whisper  to  the  young  lady, 
who  had  shrunk  a  little  from  the  foreground  of  the  pic- 
ture : — 

"  This,  you  see,  cousin  Bess,  is  the  natural  reluctance  of 
a  half-breed  to  leave  the  savage  state.  Their  attachment 
to  a  wandering  life  is,  I  verily  believe,  unconquerable." 

"It  is  a  precarious  life,"  observed  Marmaduke,  without 
hearing  the  Sheriff's  observation,  "  and  one  that  brings 
more  evils  with  it  than  present  suffering.  Trust  me, 
young  friend,  my  experience  is  greater  than  thine,  when  I 
tell  thee,  that  the  unsettled  life  of  these  hunters  is  of  vast 
disadvantage  for  temporal  purposes,  and  it  totally  removes 
one  from  the  influence  of  more  sacred  things." 

"  No,  no,  Judge,"  interrupted  the  Leather-Stocking,  who 
was  hitherto  unseen,  or  disregarded;  "take  him  into  your 
shanty  in  welcome,  but  tell  him  truth.  I  have  lived  in 
the  woods  for  forty  long  years,  and  have  spent  five  at  a 
time  without  seeing  the  light  of  a  clearing  bigger  than  a 
windrow  in  the  trees;  and  I  should  like  to  know  where 
you'll  find  a  man,  in  his  sixty-eighth  year,  who  can  get  an 
easier  living,  for  all  your  betterments  and  your  deer-laws : 
and,  as  for  honesty,  or  doing  what's  right  between  man 
and  man,  I'll  not  turn  my  back  to  the  longest  winded  dea- 
con on  your  Patent." 

"  Thou  art  an  exception,  Leather-Stocking,"  returned 
the  Judge,  nodding  good-naturedly  at  the  hunter;  "for 
thou  hast  a  temperance  unusual  in  thy  class,  and  a  hardi- 
hood exceeding  thy  years.  But  this  youth  is  made  of  ma- 
terials too  precious  to  be  wasted  in  the  forest.  I  entreat 
thee  to  join  my  family,  if  it  be  but  till  thy  arm  be  healed., 


THE  PIONEERS. 


187 


My  daughter  here,  who  is  mistress  of  my  dwelling,  will  tell 
thee  that  thou  art  welcome/' 

"  Certainly/'  said  Elizabeth,  whose  earnestness  was  a  lit- 
tle checked  by  female  reserve.  "  The  unfortunate  would 
be  welcome  at  any  time,  but  doubly  so  when  we  feel  that 
we  have  occasioned  the  evil  ourselves." 

"Yes/'  said  Richard,  "and  if  you  relish  turkey,  young 
man,  there  are  plenty  in  the  coops,  and  of  the  best  kind,  I 
can  assure  you." 

Finding  himself  thus  ably  seconded,  Marmaduke  pushed 
his  advantage  to  the  utmost.  He  entered  into  a  detail  of 
the  duties  that  would  attend  the  situation,  and  circum- 
stantially mentioned  the  reward,  and  all  those  points  which 
are  deemed  of  importance  among  men  of  business.  The 
youth  listened  in  extreme  agitation.  There  was  an  evi- 
dent contest  in  his  feelings;  at  times  he  appeared  to  wish 
eagerly  for  the  change,  and  then  again  the  incomprehen- 
sible expresison  of  disgust  would  cross  his  features,  like  a 
dark  cloud  obscuring  a  noonday  sun. 

The  Indian,  in  whose  manner  the  depression  of  self- 
abasement  was  most  powerfully  exhibited,  listened  to  the 
offers  of  the  Judge  with  an  interest  that  increased  with 
each  syllable.  Gradually  he  drew  nigber  to  the  group- 
and  when,  with  his  keen  glance,  he  detected  the  most 
marked  evidence  of  yielding  in  the  countenance  of  his 
young  companion,  he  changed  at  once  from  his  attitude 
and  look  of  shame  to  the  front  of  an  Indian  warrior,  and 
moving  with  great  dignity  closer  to  the  parties,  he  spoke 

"Listen  to  your  Father/'  he  said;  "his  words  are  old. 
Let  the  Young  Eagle  and  the  Great  Land  Chief  eat  to- 
gether; let  them  sleep,  without  fear,  near  each  other.  The 
children  of  Miquon  love  not  blood;  they  are  just,  and  will 
do  right.  The  sun  must  rise  and  set  often,  before  men  can 
make  one  family;  it  is  not  the  work  of  a  day,  but  of  many 
winters.  The  Mingos  and  the  Delawares  are  born  enemies ; 
their  blood  can  never  mix  in  the  wigwam :  it  never  will 
run  in  the  same  stream  in  the  battle.  What  makes  the 
brother  of  Miquon  and  the  Young  Eagle  foes  ?  They  are 
of  the  same  tribe:  their  fathers  and  mothers  are  one. 
Learn  to  wait,  my  son :  you  are  a  Delaware,  and  an  Indian 
warrior  knows  how  to  be  patient." 

This  figurative  address  seemed  to  have  great  weight  with 
the  young  man,  who  gradually  yielded  to  the  representa- 
tions of  Marmaduke,  and  eventually  consented  to  his  pro- 


!88  THE  PIONEERS. 

posal.  It  was,  nowever,  to  be  an  experiment  only;  and  if 
either  of  the  parties  thought  fit  to  rescind  the  engagement, 
it  was  left  at  his  option  so  to  do.  The  remarkable  and  ill- 
concealed  reluctance  of  the  youth  to  accept  of  an  offer, 
which  most  men  in  his  situation  would  consider  as  an  un- 
hoped-for elevation,  occasioned  no  little  surprise  in  those  to 
whom  he  was  a  stranger;  and  it  left  a  slight  impression 
to  his  disadvantage.  When  the  parties  separated,  they 
very  naturally  made  the  subject  the  topic  of  a  conversa- 
tion, which  we  shall  relate;  first  commencing  with  the 
Judge,  his  daughter,  and  Richard,  who  were  slowly  pursu- 
ing the  way  back  to  the  Mansion-house. 

"  I  have  surely  endeavored  to  remember  the  holy  man- 
dates of  our  Redeemer,  when  He  bids  us  '  Love  them  who 
despitefully  use  you/  in  my  intercourse  with  this  incom- 
prehensible boy,"  said  Marmaduke.  "I  know  not  what 
there  is  in  my  dwelling  to  frighten  a  lad  of  his  years,  un- 
less it  may  be  thy  presence  and  visage,  Bess." 

"No,  no,"  said  Richard,  with  great  simplicity;  '  it  is 
not  cousin  Bess.  But  when  did  you  ever  know  a  half- 
breed,  'Duke,  who  could  bear  civilization?  For  that 
matter,  they  are  worse  than  the  savages  themselves  ?  Did 
you  notice  how  knock-kneed  he  stood,  Elizabeth,  and  what 
a  wild  look  he  had  in  his  eyes  ?". 

"  I  heeded  not  his  eyes,  nor  his  knees,  which  would  be 
all  the  better  for  a  little  humbling.  Really,  my  dear  sir,  I 
think  you  did  exercise  the  Christian  virtue  of  patience  to 
the  utmost.  I  was  disgusted  with  his  airs,  long  before  he 
consented  to  make  one  of  our  family.  Truly,  we  are  much 
honored  by  the  association!  In  what. apartment  is  he  to 
be  placed,  sir;  and  at  what  table  is  he  to  receive  his  nectar 

and  ambrosia  ? "  ,■„'»".         .  j  ur 

"With  Benjamin  and  Remarkable,"  interrupted  Mr. 
Jones*  "you  surely  would  not  make  the  youth  eat  with 
the  blacks!  He  is  part  Indian,  it  is  true;  but  the  natives 
hold  the  negroes  in  great  contempt.  No,  no;  he  would 
starve  before  he  would  break  a  crust  with  the  negroes. 

"I  am  but  too  happy,  Dickon,  to  tempt  him  to  eat  with 
ourselves,"  said  Marmaduke,  "to  think  of  offering  even 
the  indignity  you  propose." 

"  Then  sir  "  said  Elizabeth,  with  an  air  that  was  slightly 
affected,  as  if  submitting  to  her  father's  orders  in  opposi- 
tion to  her  own  will,  "it  is  your  pleasure  that  he  be  a  gen- 
tleman." 


THE  PIONEERS.  ^9 

"Certainly;  he  is  to  fill  the  station  of  one.  Let  him  re^ 
ceive  the  treatment  that  is  due  to  his  place,  until  we  find 
him  unworthy  of  it." 

"Well,  well,  'Duke,"  criea  the  Sheriff,  "you  will  find  it 
no  easy  matter  to  make  a  gentleman  of  him.  The  old 
proverb  says  that  ( It  takes  three  generations  to  make  a 
gentleman.'  There  was  my  father,  whom  everybody  knew 
my  grandfather  was  an  M.  D.,  and  his  father  a  D.  D.;  and 
his  father  came  from  England.  I  never  could  come  at  the 
truth  of  his  origin;  but  he  was  either  a  great  merchant  in 
London,  or  a  great  country  lawyer,  or  the  youngest  son  of 
a  bishop/' 

"  Here  is  a  true  American  genealogy  for  you/'  said  Mar- 
maduke,  laughing.  "It  does  very  well  till  you  get  across 
the  water,  where,  as  everything  is  obscure,  it  is  certain  to 
deal  m  the  superlative.  You  are  sure  that  your  English 
progenitor  was  great,  Dickon,  whatever  his  profession 
might  have  been  ?" 

"To  be  sure  I  am,"  returned  the  other.  "I  have  heard 
my  old  aunt  talk  of  him  by  the  month.  We  are  of  a  good 
family,  Judge  Temple,  and  have  never  filled  any  but  hon- 
orable stations  in  life." 

"I  marvel  that  you  should  be  satisfied  with  so  scanty  a 
provision  of  gentility  in  the  olden  time,  Dickon.  Most  of 
the  American  genealogists  commence  their  traditions,  like 
the  stories  for  children,  with  three  brothers,  taking  especial 
care  that  one  of  the  triumvirate  shall  be  the  progenitor  of 
any  of  the  same  name  who  may  happen  to  be  better  fur- 
nished with  worldly  gear  than  themselves.  But  here  all 
are  equal  who  know  how  to  conduct  themselves  with 
propriety;  and  Oliver  Edwards  comes  into  my  family  on  a 
footing  with  both  the  High  Sheriff  and  the  Judge." 

"Well,  'Duke,  I  call  this  democracy,  not  republicanism; 
but  I  say  nothing;  only  let  him  keep  within  the  law,  or  I 
shall  show  him  that  the  freedom  of  even  this  countrv  is 
under  wholesome  restraint." 

"Surely,  Dickon,  you  will  not  execute  till  I  condemn' 
But  what  says  Bess  to  the  new  inmate  ?  We  must  pay  a 
deference  to  the  ladies  in  this  matter,  after  all." 

"0,  sir!"  returned  Elizabeth,  "I  believe  I  am  much 
like  a  certain  Judge  Temple  in  this  particular— not  easily 
to  be  turned  from  my  opinion.  But,  to  be  serious,  al- 
though I  must  think  the  introduction  of  a  demi-savage 
into  the  family  a  somewhat  startling  event,  whomsoever 


19o  THE  PIONEERS. 

you  think  proper  to  countenance  may  be  sure  of  my  re- 

SPThe  Judge  drew  her  arm  more  closely  in  his  own  and 
smiled,  while  Richard  led  the  way  through  the  gate  of  the 
little  courtyard  in  the  rear  of  the  dwelling,  dealing  out  his 
ambiguous  warnings  with  his  accustomed  loquacity. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  foresters— for  the  three  hunters, 
notwithstanding  their  difference  in  character,  well  deserved 
this  common  name— pursued  their  course  along  the  skirts 
of  the  village  in  silence.  It  was  not  until  they  had  reached 
the  lake,  and  were  moving  over  its  frozen  surface  towards 
the  foot  of  the  mountain,  where  the  hut  stood,  that  the 
youth  exclaimed, — 

"  Who  could  have  foreseen  this  a  month  since!  1  Have 
consented  to  serve  Marmaduke  Temple —to  be  an  inmate 
in  the  dwelling  of  the  greatest  enemy  of  my  race;  yet 
what  better  could  I  do  ?  The  servitude  cannot  be  long  ; 
and  when  the  motive  for  submitting  to  it  ceases  to  exist, 
I  will  shake  it  off,  like  the  dust  from  my  feet. " 

"Is  he  a  Mingo,  that  you  will  call  him  enemy.'  said 
Mohegan.  "  The  Delaware  warrior  sits  still,  and  waits  the 
time  of  the  Great  Spirit.    He  is  no  woman,  to  cry  out  like 

a  child."  .,  _  ,  . 

"Well,  I'm  mistrustful,  John/'  said  Leather-Stocking, 
in  whose  air  there  had  been,  during  the  whole  business,  a 
strong  expression  of  doubt  and  uncertainty.  1  hey  say 
that  there's  new  laws  in  the  land,  and  I  am  sartain  that 
there's  new  ways  in  the  mountains.  One  hardly  knows 
the  lakes  and  streams,  they've  altered  the  country  so  much. 
I  must  say  I'm  mistrustful  of  such  smooth  speakers;  tor 
I've  known  the  whites  talk  fair  when  they  wanted  the 
Indian  lands  most.  This  I  will  say,  though  I'm  white  my- 
self, and  was  born  nigh  York,  and  of  honest  parents  too. 

"I  will  submit,"  said  the  youth;  "I  will  forget  who  I 
am.  Cease  to  remember,  old  Mohegan,  that  I  am  the  de- 
scendant of  a  Delaware  chief,  who  once  was  master  ot 
these  noble  hills,  these  beautiful  vales,  and  of  this  water 
over  which  we  tread.  Yes,  yes;  I  will  become  his  bonds- 
man—his  slave.    Is  it  not  an  honorable  servitude,  old 


man?" 


Old  man!"  repeated  the  Indian,  solemnly,  and  paus- 
ing in  his  walk,  as  usual,  when  much  excited:  "yes;  John 
is  old.  Son  of  my  brother!  if  Mohegan  was  young  when 
would  his  rifle  be  still  ?    Where  would  the  deer  hide,  ana 


THE  PIONEERS.  i9i 

he  not  find  him  ?  But  John  is  old;  hie  hand  is  the  hand 
of  a  squaw;  his  tomahawk  is  a  hatchet;  brooms  and 
baskets  are  his  enemies;  he  strikes  no  other.  Hunger  and 
old  age  come  together.  See,  Hawkeye!  when  young,  he 
would  go  days  and  eat  nothing:  but  should  he  not  put  the 
brush  on  the  fire  now,  the  blaze  would  go  out.  Take  the 
son  of  Miquon  by  the  hand,  and  he  will  help  you." 

"  I'm  not  the  man  I  was,  I'll  own,  Chingachgook,"  re- 
turned the  Leather-Stocking;  "but  I  can  go  without  a 
meal  now,  on  occasion.  When  we  tracked  the  Iroquois 
through  the  <  Beech  woods/  they  drove  the  game  afore 
them,  for  I  hadn't  a  morsel  to  eat  from  Monday  morning 
come  Wednesday  sundown;  and  then  I  shot  as  fat  a  buck, 
on  the  Pennsylvany  line,  as  ever  mortal  laid  eyes  on.  It 
would  have  done  your  heart  good  to  have  seen  the  Dela- 
ware eat;  for  I  was  out  scouting  and  skrimmaging  with 
their  tribe  at  the  time.  Lord !  the  Indians,  lad,  lay  still, 
and  just  waited  till  Providence  should  send  them  their 
game;  but  I  foraged  about,  and  put  a  deer  up,  and  put 
him  down  too,  afore  he  had  made  a  dozen  jumps :  I  was 
too  weak  and  too  ravenous  to  stop  for  his  flesh;  so  I  took 
a  good  drink  of  his  blood,  and  the  Indians  ate  of  his  meat 
raw.  John  was  there,  and  John  knows.  But  then  starva- 
tion would  be  apt  to  be  too  much  for  me  now,  I  will  own, 
though  Pm  no  great  eater  at  any  time." 

"Enough  is  said,  my  friends/7  cried  the  youth.  "I  feel 
that  everywhere  the  sacrifice  is  required  at  my  hands,  and 
it  shall  be  made;  but  say  no  more,  I  entreat  you;  I  cannot 
bear  this  subject  now." 

His  companions  were  silent;  and  they  soon  reached  the 
hut,  which  they  entered,  after  removing  certain  compli- 
cated and  ingenious  fastenings,  that  were  put  there  ap- 
parently to  guard  a  property  of  but  very  little  value. 
Immense  piles  of  snow  lay  against  the  log  walls  of  this  se- 
cluded habitation,  on  one  side;  while  fragments  of  small 
trees,  and  branches  of  oak  and  chestnut,  that  had  been 
torn  from  their  parent  stems  by  the  wind,  were  thrown 
into  a  pile,  on  the  other.  A  small  column  of  smoke  rose 
through  a  chimney  of  sticks,  cemented  with  clay,  along 
the  side  of  the  rock,  and  had  marked  the  snow  above  with 
its  dark  tinges,  in  a  wavy  line,  from  the  point  of  emission 
to  another,  where  the  hill  receded  from  the  brow  of  a  preci- 
pice, and  held  a  soil  that  nourished  trees  of  a  gigantic 
growth,  that  overhung  the  little  bottom  beneath. 


192 


THE  PIONEERS. 


The  remainder  of  the  day  passed  off  as  such  days  are 
commonly  spent  in  a  new  country.  The  settlers  thronged 
to  the  academy  again,  to  witness  the  second  effort  of  Mr. 
Grant;  and  Mohegan  was  one  of  his  hearers.  But,  not- 
withstanding the  divine  fixed  his  eyes  intently  on  the 
Indian,  when  he  invited  his  congregation  to  advance  to  the 
table,  the  shame  of  last  night's  abasement  was  yet  too  keen 
in  the  old  chief  to  suffer  him  to  move. 

When  the  people  were  dispersing,  the  clouds,  that  had 
been  gathering  all  the  morning,  were  dense  and  dirty;  and 
before  half  of  the  curious  congregation  had  reached  their 
different  cabins,  that  were  placed  in  every  glen  and  hollow 
of  the  mountains,  or  perched  on  the  summits  of  the  hills 
themselves,  the  rain  was  falling  in  torrents.  The  dark 
edges  of  the  stumps  began  to  exhibit  themselves,  as  the 
snow  settled  rapidly;  the  fences  of  logs  and  brush,  which 
before  had  been  only  traced  by  long  lines  of  white  mounds, 
that  ran  across  the  valley  and  up  the  mountains,  peeped 
out  from  their  covering,  and  the  black  stubs  were  mo- 
mentarily becoming  more  distinct  as  large  masses  of  snow 
and  ice  fell  from  their  sides,  under  the  influence  of  the 

^Sheltered  in  the  warm  hall  of  her  father's  comfortable 
mansion,  Elizabeth,  accompanied  by  Louisa  Grant,  looked 
abroad  with  admiration  at  the  ever-varying  face  of  things 
without.  Even  the  village,  which  had  just  before  been 
glittering  with  the  color  of  the  frozen  element,  reluctantly 
dropped  its  mask,  and  the  houses  exposed  their  dark 
roofs  and  smoked  chimneys.  The  pines  shook  off  the 
covering  of  snow,  and  everything  seemed  to  be  assuming 
its  proper  hue,  with  a  transition  that  bordered  on  the 
supernatural. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

And  yet,  poor  Edwin  was  no  vulgar  boy.  B^x-m; 

The  close  of  Christmas  Day,  a.  d.  1793,  was  tempestu- 
ous, but  comparatively  warm.  When  carkness  had  again 
hid  the  objects  in  the  village  from  the  gaze  of  Elizabeth 
she  turned  from  the  window,  where  she  had  remained 
while  the  least  vestige  of  light  lingered  over  the  tops  ot 
the  dark  pines,  with  a  curiosity  that  was  rather  excited 


THE  PIONEERS.  m 

than  appeased  by  the  passing  glimpses  of  woodland  scenery 
that  she  had  caught  during  the  day. 

With  her  arm  locked  in  that  of  Miss  Grant,  the  young 
mistress  of  the  mansion  walked  slowly  up  and  down  the 
hall,  musing  on  scenes  that  were  rapidly  recurring  to  her 
memory,  and  possibly  dwelling,  at  times,  in  the  sanctuary 
ol  her  thoughts,  on  the  strange  occurrences  that  had  led 
to  the  introduction  to  her  father's  family,  of  one  whose 
manners  so  singularly  contradicted  the  inferences  to  be 
drawn  from  his  situation.  The  expiring  heat  of  the  apart- 
ment—for  its  great  size  required  a  day  to  reduce  its  tem- 
perature—had given  to  her  cheeks  a  bloom  that  exceeded 
their  natural  color,  while  the  mild  and  melancholy  fea- 
tures of  Louisa  were  brightened  with  a  faint  tinge,  that, 
like  the  hectic  of  disease,  gave  a  painful  interest  to  her 
beauty. 

The  eyes  of  the  gentlemen,  who  yet  were  seated  around 
the  rich  wines  of  Judge  Temple,  frequently  wandered 
irom  the  table,  that  was  placed  at  one  end  of  the  hall,  to 
the  forms  that  were  silently  moving  over  its  length.  Much 
mirth,  and  that,  at  times,  of  a  boisterous  kind,  proceeded 
from  the  mouth  of  Richard;  but  Major  Hartmann  was  not 
yet  excited  to  his  pitch  of  merriment,  and  Marmaduke 
respected  the  presence  of  his  clerical  guest  too  much  to 
indulge  m  even  the  innocent  humor  that  formed  no  small 
ingredient  in  his  character. 

Such  were,  and  such  continued  to  be,  the  pursuits  of 
the  party,  for  half  an  hour  after  the  shutters  were  closed, 
and  candles  were  placed  in  various  parts  of  the  hall,  as 
substitutes  for  the  departing  daylight.    The  appearance 
ot  Benjamin,  staggering  under  the  burden  of  an  armful  of 
wood,  was  the  first  interruption  to  the  scene. 
,  "How  now  Master  Pump!"  roared  the  newly  appointed 
sherift;     is  there  not  warmth  enough  in  'Duke's  best 
Madeira  to  keep  up  the  animal  heat  through  this  thaw  ? 
Kemember,  old  boy,  that  the  Judge  is  particular  with  his 
beech  and  maple,  beginning  to  dread  already  a  scarcity  of 
the  precious  articles.  Ha!  ha!  ha!  'Duke,  you  are  a  good 
warm-hearted  relation,  I  will  own,  as  in  duty  bound,  but 
you  have  some  queer  notions  about  you,  after  all.    '  Come 
let  us  be  jolly,  and  cast  away  folly.' " 

The  notes  gradually  sank  into  a  hum,  while  the  maior- 
domo  threw  down  his  load,  and  turning  to  his  interrogator 
syitn  an  air  of  earnestness,  replied,— 


I94  THE  PIONEERS. 

"  Why,  look  you,  Squire  Dickens,  mayhap  there's  a  warm 
latitude  round  about  the  table  there,  tho'f  it's  not  the 
stuff  to  raise  the  heat  in  my  body,  neither;  the  raal 
Jamaiky  being  the  only  thing  to  do  that,  besides  good 
wood,  or  some  such  matter  as  Newcastle  coal.  But,  it  1 
know  anything  of  weather,  d'ye  see,  it's  time  to  be  getting 
all  snug,  and  for  putting  the  ports  in,  and  stirring  the 
fires  a  bit.  Mayhap  I've  not  followed  the  seas  twenty- 
seven  years,  and  lived  another  seven  in  these  here  woods, 
for  nothing,  gemmen."  #  ' 

"  Why,  does  it  bid  fair  for  a  change  m  the  weather, 
Benjamin  ?  "  inquired  the  master  of  the  house. 

"There's  a  shift  of  wind,  your  honor,"  returned  the 
steward;  "  and  when  there's  a  shift  of  wind,  you  may  look 
for  a  change  in  this  here  climate.    I  was  aboard  of  one  of 
Rodney's  fleet,  d'ye  see,  about  the  time  we  licked  De  Grasse, 
Mounsheer  Ler  Quaw's  countryman,  there;  and  the  wind 
was  here  at  the  south'ard  and  east'ard;  and  I  was  below, 
mixing  a  toothful  of  hot  stuff  for  the  captain  of  marines, 
who  dined,  d'ye  see,  in  the  cabin,  that  there  very  same 
day;  and  I  suppose  he  wanted  to  put  out  the  captain's  fire 
with  a  gun-room  ingyne:  and  so,  just  as  I  got  it  to  my 
own  liking,  after  tasting  pretty  often,  for  the  soldier  was 
difficult  to  please,  slap  came  the  foresail  agin  the  mast, 
whiz  went  the  ship  round  on  her  heel,  like  a  whirligig. 
And  a  lucky  thing  was  it  that  our  helm  was  down;  for  as 
she  gathered  starnway  she  paid  off,  which  was  more  than 
every  ship  in  the  fleet  did,  or  could  do.    But  she  strained 
herself  in  the  trough  of  the  sea,  and  she  shipped  a  deal  of 
water  over  her  quarter.    I  never  swallowed  so  much  clear 
water  at  a  time  in  my  life,  as  I  did  then,  for  I  was  look- 
ing up  the  after-hatch  at  the  instant." 

"I  wonder,  Benjamin,  that  you  did  not  die  with  a 
dropsy!"  said  Marmaduke. 

"  I  mought,  Judge,"  said  the  old  tar,  with  a  broad  grin; 
"but  there  was  no  need  of  the  med'cine  chest  for  a  cure; 
for  as  I  thought  the  brew  was  spoilt  for  the  marine's  taste, 
and  there  was  no  telling  when  another  sea  might  come 
and  spoil  it  for  mine,  I  finished  the  mug  on  the  spot,  bo 
then  all  hands  was  called  to  the  pumps,  and  there  we 
began  to  ply  the  pumps ';— 

"Well,  but  the  weather?"  interrupted  Marmaduke; 
"  what  of  the  weather  without  doors  ?  " 

"  Why,  here  the  wind  has  been  all  day  at  the  south,  and 


THE  PIONEERS. 


now  there's  a  lull,  as  if  the  last  blast  was  out  of  the  bellows; 
and  there's  a  streak  along  the  mountains,  to  the  north'ard, 
that,  just  now,  wasn't  wider  than  the  bigness  of  your  hand  • 
and  then  the  clouds  drive  afore  it  as  you'd  brail  a  mainsail' 
and  the  stars  are  heaving  in  sight,  like  so  many  lights  and 
beacons,  put  there  to  warn  us  to  pile  on  the  wood;  and, 
lf-so-be  that  I'm  a  judge  of  weather,  it's  getting  to  be  time 
to  build  on  a  fire;  or  you'll  have  half  of- them  there  porter 
bottles,  and  them  dimmyjohns  of  wine,  in  the  locker  here, 
breaking  with  the  frost,  afore  the  morning  watch  is  called.'' 
"Thou  art  a  prudent  sentinel,"  said  the  Judge.  "Act 
thy  pleasure  with  the  forests,  for  this  night  at  least." 

Benjamin  did  as  he  was  ordered;  nor  had  two  hours 
elapsed  before  the  prudence  of  his  precautions  became 
very  visible.  The  south  wind  had,  indeed,  blown  itself 
out,  and  it  was  succeeded  by  the  calmness  that  usually 
gave  warning  of  a  serious  change  in  the  weather.  Long 
before  the  family  retired  to  rest,  the  cold  had  become  cut- 
tingly severe,  and  when  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  sallied  forth, 
under  a  bright  moon,  to  seek  his  own  abode,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  beg  a  blanket,  in  which  he  might  envelop  his 
form,  in  addition  to  the  numerous  garments  that  his 
sagacity  had  provided  for  the  occasion.  The  divine  and 
his  daughter  remained  as  inmates  of  the  Mansion-house 
during  the  night,  and  the  excess  of  last  night's  merriment 
induced  the  gentlemen  to  make  an  early  retreat  to  their 
several  apartments.  Long  before  midnight,  the  whole 
family  were  invisible. 

Elizabeth  and  her  friend  had  not  yet  lost  their  senses  in 
sleep,  when  the  howlings  of  the  northwest  wind  were  heard 
around  the  buildings,  and  brought  with  them  that  ex- 
quisite sense  of  comfort  that  is  ever  excited  under  such 
circumstances,  in  an  apartment  where  the  fire  has  not  yet 
ceased  to  glimmer;  and  curtains,  and  shutters  and  feathers, 
unite  to  preserve  the  desired  temperature.  Once,  just  as 
her  eyes  had  opened,  apparently  in  the  last  stage  of  drowsi- 
ness, the  roaring  winds  brought  with  them  a  long  and 
plaintive  howl,  that  seemed  too  wild  for  a  dog,  and  yet 
resembled  the  cries  of  that  faithful  animal,  when  night 
awakens  his  vigilance,  and  gives  sweetness  and  solemnity 
to  his  alarms.  The  form  of  Louisa  Grant  instinctively 
pressed  nearer  to  that  of  the  young  heiress,  who,  finding 
her  companion  was  yet  awake,  said,  in  a  low  tone,  as  if 
afraid  to  break  a  charm  with  her  voice, — 


j  6  THE  PIONEERS. 

"Those  distant  cries  are  plaintive,  and  even beautiful. 
Can  they  be  the  hounds  from  the  hut  of  Leather-Stock- 

""They  are  wolves,  who  have  ventured  from  the  moun- 
tain, on  the  lake,"  whispered  Louisa,  "and  who  are  only 
kep  from  the  village  hy  the  lights.  One  night  since  we 
have  been  here,  hunger  drove  them  to  our  very  door.  0, 
what  a  dreadful  night  it  was!  But  the  riches  of  Judge 
Temple  have  given  him  too  many  safeguards,  to  leave 
room  for  fear  in  this  house."  . 

"The  enterprise  of  Judge  Temple  is  taming  the  very 
forests!"  exclaimed  Elizabeth,  throwing  off  the  covering 
and  partly  rising  in  the  bed.  "  How  rapidly  is  civilization 
reading  L  the  footsteps  of  nature!"  she  contx^M  m 
her  eye  glanced  over,  not  only  the  comforts  but  the  lux- 
uries of  V  apartment,  and  her  ear  again  listened  to  the 
distant,  but  often  repeated  howls  from  the  ake.  iinu- 
£  however,  that  the  timidity  of  her  companion  rendered 
h!  sounds  painful  to  her,  Elizabeth  resu med her  p ace 
and  soon  forgot  the  changes  in  the  country,  with  those  in 
her  own  condition,  in  a  deep  sleep.  a^  . 

The  following  morning,  the  noise .of  h%femal*XP  ?  he 
who  entered  the  apartment  to  light  the  Are,  awoke  the 
females.  They  arose,  and  finished  the  slight  preparat ons 
o/their  toilets  in  a  clear,  cold  atmosphere,  that  penetrated 
through  all  the  defenses  of  even  Miss  Temple's  warm 
room  When  Elizabeth  was  attired,  she  approached  a 
window  and  drew  its  curtain,  and  throwing  open  its 
ZtteTs,  she  endeavored  to  look  abroad  on  the  village  and 
he  lake  But  a  thick  covering  of  frost  on  the  glass,  while 
t  admitted  the  light,  shut  out  the  view.  She  raisecl  the 
gash,  and  then,  indeed,  a  glorious  scene  met  her  delighted 

°yThe  lake  had  exchanged  its  covering  of  unspotted  snow 
for  a  face  of  dark  ice,  that  reflected  the  rays  of  fenang 
sun,  like  a  polished  mirror.  The  houses  were  clothed  m 
a  dress  of  the  same  description,  but  which,  owing  to  its 
Virion  shone  like  bright  'steel ; 

cles.that  were  pendant  from  evefj -roof,  caught th >hnl 
liant  light,  apparently  throwing  it  from  one  to  the  other, 
as  eachglittered,  on  the  side  next  the  luminary  w th  a 
golden  lustre,  that  melted  away,  on  its  opposite,  into  the 
dusky  shades' of  a  background  But  it  was .the .appear- 
ance  of  the  boundless  forests  that  covered  the  hills  as  they 


THE  PIONEERS.  lg7 

rose,  in  the  distance,  one  over  the  other,  that  most  at- 
tracted the  gaze  of  Miss  Temple.    The  huge  branches  of 
the  pines  and  hemlocks  bent  with  the  weight  of  the  ice 
they  supported,  while  their  summits  rose  above  the  swell- 
ing tops  of  the  oaks,  beeches,  and  maples,  like  spires  of 
burnished  silver  issuing  from  domes  of  the  same  material. 
The  limits  of  the  view  in  the  west,  were  marked  by  an  un- 
dulating outline  of  bright  light,  as  if,  reversing  the  order 
of  nature,  numberless  suns  might  momentarily  be  expected 
to  heave  above  the  horizon.    In  the  foreground  of  the 
picture,  along  the  shores  of  the  lake,  and  near  to  the 
village,  each  tree  seemed  studded  with  diamonds.  Even 
the  sides  of  the  mountains  where  the  rays  of  the  sun 
could  not  yet  fall,  were  decorated  with  a  glassy  coat,  that 
presented  every  gradation  of  brilliancy,  from  the  first 
touch  of  the  luminary  to  the  dark  foliage  of  the  hemlock 
glistening  through  its  coat  of  erystal.    In  short,  the  whole 
view  was  one  scene  of  quivering  radiancy,  as  lake,  moun- 
tains, village,  and  woods,  each  emitted  a  portion  of  light 
tinged  with  its  peculiar  hue,  and  varied  by  its  position  and 
its  magnitude. 

"See!"  cried  Elizabeth,  "see,  Louisa:  hasten  to  the 
window,  and  observe  the  miraculous  change  ! " 
.  ^iss  Grant  complied;  and,  after  bending  for  a  moment 
m  silence,  from  the  opening,  she  observed,  in  a  low  tone 
as  if  afraid  to  trust  the  sound  of  her  voice,—-  ' 
,  "  change  is  indeed  wonderful  !  I  am  surprised  that 
he  should  be  able  to  effect  it  so  soon." 

Elizabeth  turned  in  amazement,  to  hear  so  skeptical  a 
sentiment  from  one  educated  like  her  companion:  but  was 
surprised  to  find  that,  instead  of  looking  at  the  view,  the 
mild  blue  eyes  of  Miss  Grant  were  dwelling  on  the  form  of 
a  well-dressed  young  man,  who  was  standing  before  the 
door  of  the  building,  in  earnest  conversation  with  her 
lather.  A  second  look  was  necessary,  before  she  was  able 
to  recognize  the  person  of  the  young  hunter,  in  a  plain, 
but  assuredly  the  ordinary  garb  of  a  gentleman. 

Everything  in  this  magical  country  seems  to  border  on 
the  marvelous,"  said  Elizabeth;  "and  among  all  the 
changes,  this  is  certainly  not  the  least  wonderful.  The 
actors  are  as  unique  as  the  scenery." 

Miss  Grant  colored,  and  drew  in  her  head. 
"I  am  a  simple  country  girl,  Miss  Temple,  and  I  am 
afraid  you  will  find  me  but  a  poor  companion,"  she  said. 


i98  THE  PIONEERS. 

"  I—I  am  not  sure  that  I  understand  all  you  say.  But  1 
really  thought  that  you  wished  me  to  notice  the  altera- 
tion in  Mr.  Edwards.  Is  it  not  more  wonderful  when  we 
recollect  his  origin  ?    They  say  he  is  part  Indian." 

"  He  is  a  genteel  savage :  but  let  us  go  down,  and  give 
the  Sachem  his  tea— for  I  suppose  he  is  a  descendant  of 
King  Philip,  if  not  a  grandson  of  Pocahontas." 

The  ladies  were  met  in  the  hall  by  Judge  Temple,  who 
took  his  daughter  aside  to  apprise  her  of  that  alteration 
in  the  appearance  of  their  new  inmate,  with  which  she 
was  already  acquainted. 

"  He  appears  reluctant  to  converse  on  his  former  situa- 
tion," continued  Marmaduke;  "but  I  gather  from  his  dis- 
course, as  is  apparent  from  his  manner,  that  he  has  seen 
better  davs;  and  I  really  am  inclining  to  the  opinion  of 
Richard,  as  to  his  origin;  for  it  was  no  unusual  thing  for 
the  Indian  agents  to  rear  their  children  m  a  laudable 
manner,  and  " — 

"Very  well,  my  dear  sir,"  interrupted  his  daughter, 
laughing  and  averting  her  eves;  "it  is  all  well  enough,  I 
dare  say;  but  as  I  do  not  understand  a  word  of  the  Mo- 
hawk language, he  must  be  content  to  speak  English;  and 
as  for  his  behavior,  I  trust  to  your  discernment  to  control  it. 

"Aye!  but,  Bess,"  said  the  Judge,  detaining  her  gently 
with  his  hand,  "  nothing  must  be  said  to  him  of  his  past 
life.  This  he  has  begged  particularly  of  me,  as  a  favor 
He  is,  perhaps,  a  little  soured,  just  now,  with  his  wounded 
arm;  the  injury  seems  very  light,  and  another  time  he 
may  be  more  communicative." 

"0!  I  am  not  much  troubled,  sir,  with  that  laudable 
thirst' after  knowledge,  that  is  called  curiosity.  I  shall 
believe  him  to  be  the  child  of  Corn-stalk,  or  Corn-planter, 
or  some  other  renowned  chieftain;  possibly  of  the  Big 
Snake  himself;  and  shall  treat  him  as  such  until  he  sees 
fit  to  shave  his  good-looking  head,  borrow  some  halt-dozen 
pair  of  my  best  ear-rings,  shoulder  his  rifle  again,  and  dis- 
appear as  suddenly  as  he  made  his  entrance.  So  come, 
my  dear  sir,  and  let  us  not  forget  the  rites  of  hospitality, 
for  the  short  time  he  is  to  remain  with  us." 

Judge  Temple  smiled  at  the  playfulness  of  his  child, 
and  taking  her  arm,  they  entered  the  breakfast  parlor, 
where  the  young  hunter  was  seated,  with  an  air  that  showed 
his  determination  to  domesticate  himself  in  the  iamily 
with  as  little  parade  as  possible. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


199 


Such  were  the  incidents  that  led  to  this  extraordinary 
increase  in  the  family  of  Judge  Temple,  where,  having 
once  established  the  youth,  the  subject  of  our  tale  requires 
us  to  leave  him,  for  a  time,  to  pursue  with  diligence  and 
intelligence  the  employments  that  were  assigned  him  by 
Marmaduke. 

Major  Hartmann  made  his  customary  visit,  and  took 
his  leave  of  the  party  for  the  next  three  months.  Mr. 
Grant  was  compelled  to  be  absent  much  of  his  time,  in 
remote  parts  of  the  country,  and  his  daughter  became 
almost  a  constant  visitor  at  the  Mansion-house.  Richard 
entered,  with  his  constitutional  eagerness,  on  the  duties 
of  his  new  office  ;  and,  as  Marmaduke  was  much  employed 
with  the  constant  applications  of  adventurers  for  farms, 
the  winter  passed  swiftly  away.  The  lake  was  a  principal 
scene  for  the  amusements  of  the  young  people where  the 
ladies,  in  their  one-horse  cutter,  driven  by  Richard,  and 
attended,  when  the  snow  would  admit  of  it,  by  young 
Edwards,  on  his  skates,  spent  many  hours,  taking  the 
benefit  of  exercise  in  the  clear  air  of  the  hills.  The  reserve 
of  the  youth  gradually  gave  way  to  time  and  his  situation, 
though  it  was  still  evident,  to  a  close  observer,  that  he  had 
frequent  moments  of  bitter  and  intense  feeling. 

Elizabeth  saw  many  large  openings  appear  in  the  sides 
of  the  mountains  during  the  three  succeeding  months, 
where  different  settlers  had,  in  the  language  of  the  coun- 
try, "  made  their  pitch ; "  while  the  numberless  sleighs  that 
passed  through  the  village,  loaded  with  wheat  and  barrels 
of  potashes,  afforded  a  clear  demonstration  that  all  these 
labors  were  not  undertaken  in  vain.  In  short,  the  whole 
country  was  exhibiting  the  bustle  of  a  thriving  settlement, 
where  the  highways  were  thronged  with  sleighs,  bearing 
piles  of  rough  household  furniture;  studded  here  and 
there,  with  the  smiling  faces  of  women  and  children,  happy 
in  the  excitement  of  novelty;  or  with  loads  of  produce, 
hastening  to  the  common  market  at  Albany,  that  served 
as  so  many  snares  to  induce  the  emigrants  to  enter  into 
those  wild  mountains  in  search  of  competence  and  happi- 
ness. 

The  village  was  alive  with  business;  the  artisans  in- 
creasing in  wealth  with  the  prosperity  of  the  country,  and 
each  day  witnessing  some  nearer  approach  to  the  manners 
and  usages  of  an  old  settled  town.  The  man  who  carried 
the  mail,  or  "  the  post/'  as  he  was  called,  talked  much  of 


200 


THE  PIONEERS. 


running  a  stage,  and,  once  or  twice  during  the  winter, 
he  was  seen  taking  a  single  passenger,  in  his  cutter, 
through  the  snowbanks,  towards  the  Mohawk,  along  which 
a  regular  vehicle  glided,  semi-weekly,  with  the  velocity  of 
lightning,  and  under  the  direction  of  a  knowing  whip  from 
the  "down  countries."  Towards  spring,  divers  families, 
who  had  been  into  the  "  old  States,"  to  see  their  relatives, 
returned,  in  time  to  save  the  snow,  frequently  bringing 
with  them  whole  neighborhoods,  who  were  tempted  by 
their  representations  to  leave  the  farms  of  Connecticut 
and  Massachusetts,  to  make  a  trial  of  fortune  in  the  woods. 

During  all  this  time,  Oliver  Edwards,  whose  sudden 
elevation  excited  no  surprise  in  that  changeful  country, 
was  earnestly  engaged  in  the  service  of  Marmaduke,  during 
the  days;  but  his  nights  were  often  spent  in  the  hut  of 
Leather-Stocking.  The  intercourse  between  the  three 
hunters  was  maintained  with  a  certain  air  of  mystery,  it  is 
true,  but  with  much  zeal  and  apparent  interest  to  all  the 
parties.  Even  Mohegan  seldom  came  to  the  Mansion- 
house,  and  Natty,  never ;  but  Edwards  sought  every  leisure 
moment  to  visit  his"  former  abode,  from  which  he  would 
often  return  in  the  gloomy  hours  of  night,  through  the 
snow,  or,  if  detained  beyond  the  time  at  which  the  family 
retired  to  rest,  with  the  morning  sun.  These  visits  cer- 
tainly excited  much  speculation  in  those  to  whom  they 
were  known,  but  no  comments  were  made,  excepting  occa- 
sionally, in  whispers  from  Richard,  who  would  say, — 

"It  is  not  at  all  remarkable;  a  half-breed  can  never  be 
weaned  from  the  savage  ways,  and  for  one  of  his  lineage, 
the  boy  is  much  nearer  civilization  than  could,  in  reason, 
be  expected." 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Away !  nor  let  me  loiter  in  my  song, 

For  we  have  many  a  mountain  path  to  tread.  Byron. 

As  the  spring  gradually  approached,  the  immense  piles 
of  snow,  that  by  alternate  thaws  and  frosts,  and  repeated 
storms,  had  obtained  a  firmness  which  threatened  a  tire- 
some durability,  began  to  yield  to  the  influence  of  milder 
breezes  and  a  warmer  sun.  The  gates  of  heaven  at  times 
seemed  to  open,  and  a  bland  air  diffused  itself  over  the 
earth,  when  animate  and  inanimate  nature  would  awaken, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


and,  for  a  few  hours,  the  gayety  of  spring  shone  in  every 
eye,  and  smiled  on  every  field.  But  the  shivering  blasts 
from  the  north  would  carry  their  chill  influence  over  the 
scene  again,  and  the  dark  and  gloomy  clouds  that  inter- 
cepted the  rays  of  the  sun  were  not  more  cold  and  dreary 
than  the  reaction.  These  struggles  between  the  seasons 
became  daily  more  frequent,  while  the  earth,  like  a  victim 
to  contention,  slowly  lost  the  animated  brilliancy  of  winter, 
without  obtaining  the  aspect  of  spring. 

Several  weeks  were  consumed  in  this  cheerless  manner, 
during  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  country  gradually 
changed  their  pursuits  from  the  social  and  bustling  move- 
ments of  the  time  of  snow,  to  the  laborious  and  domestic 
engagements  of  the  coming  season.  The  village  was  no 
longer  thronged  with  visitors ;  the  trade,  that  had  enlivened 
the  shops  for  several  months,  began  to  disappear;  the 
highways  lost  their  shining  coats  of  beaten  snow  in  im- 
passable sloughs,  and  were  deserted  by  the  gay  and  noisy 
travellers  who,  in  sleighs,  had,  during  the  winter,  glided 
along  their  windings;  and,  in  short,  everything  seemed 
indicative  of  a  mighty  change,  not  only  in  the  earth,  but 
in  those  who  derived  their  sources  of  comfort  and  happi- 
ness from  its  bosom. 

The  younger  members  of  the  family  in  the  Mansion- 
house,  of  which  Louisa  Grant  was  now  habitually  one,  were 
by  no  means  indifferent  observers  of  these  fluctuating  and 
tardy  changes.  While  the  snow  rendered  the  roads  passa- 
ble, they  had  partaken  largely  in  the  amusements  of  the 
winter,  which  included  not  only  daily  rides  over  the 
mountains,  and  through  every  valley  within  twenty  miles 
of  them,  but  divers  ingenious  and  varied  sources  of  pleas- 
ure, on  the  bosom  of  their  frozen  lake.  There  had  been 
excursions  in  the  equipage  of  Richard,  when,  with  his  four 
horses,  he  had  outstripped  the  winds,  as  it  flew  over  the 
glassy  ice  which  invariably  succeeded  a  thaw.  Then  the 
exciting  and  dangerous  "  whirlgig "  would  be  suffered  to 
possess  its  moment  of  noice.  Cutters,  drawn  by  a  single 
horse,  and  hand-sleds,  impelled  by  the  gentlemen,  on 
skates,  would  each  in  turn  be  used ;  and,  in  short,  every 
source  of  relief  against  the  tediousness  of  a  winter  in  the 
mountains  was  resorted  to  by  the  family.  Elizabeth  was 
compelled  to  acknowledge  to  her  father,  that  the  season, 
with  the  aid  of  his  library,  was  much  less  irksome  than  she 
had  anticipated. 


202 


THE  PIONEERS. 


As  exercise  in  the  open  air  was  in  some  degree  necessary 
to  the  habits  of  the  family,  when  the  constant  recurrence 
of  frosts  and  thaws  rendered  the  roads,  whicli  were  dan- 
gerous at  the  most  favorable  times,  utterly  impassable  for 
wheels,  saddle  horses  were  used  as  substitutes  for  other 
conveyances.  Mounted  on  small  and  sure-footed  beasts, 
the  ladies  would  again  attempt  the  passages  of  the  moun- 
tains, and  penetrate  into  every  retired  glen,  where  the  en- 
terprise of  a  settler  had  induced  him  to  establish  himself. 
In  these  excursions  they  were  attended  by  some  one  or  all 
of  the  gentlemen  of  the  family,  as  their  different  pursuits 
admitted.  Young  Edwards  was  hourly  becoming  more 
familiarized  to  his  situation,  and  not  unfrequently  mingled 
in  the  parties  with  an  unconcern  and  gayety,  that  for  a 
short  time  would  expel  all  unpleasant  recollections  from 
his  mind.  Habit,  and  the  buoyancy  of  youth,  seemed  to 
be  getting  the  ascendency  over  the  secret  causes  of  his  un- 
easiness; though  there  were  moments,  when  the  same 
remarkable  expression  of  disgust  would  cross  his  inter- 
course with  Marmaduke,  that  had  distinguished  their  con- 
versations in  the  first  days  of  their  acquaintance. 

It  was  at  the  close  of  the  month  of  March,  that  the 
Sheriff  succeeded  in  persuading  his  cousin  and  her  young 
friend  to  accompany  him  in  a  ride  to  a  hill  that  was  said 
to  overhang  the  lake  in  a  manner  peculiar  to  itself. 

"Besides,  cousin  Bess,"  continued  the  indefatigable 
Richard,  "  we  will  stop  and  see  the  '  sugar  bush '  of  Billy 
Kirby :  he  is  on  the  east  end  of  the  Ransom  lot,  making 
sugar  for  Jared  Ransom.  There  is  not  a  better  hand  over 
a  kettle  in  the  county  than  that  same  Kirby.  You  remem- 
ber, 'Duke,  that  I  had  him  his  first  season,  in  our  own  camp ; 
and  it  is  not  a  wonder  that  he  knows  something  of  his  trade." 

"He's  a  good  chopper,  is  Billy,"  observed  Benjamin, 
who  held  the  bridle  of  the  horse  while  the  Sheriff  mounted; 
"and  he  handles  an  axe  much  the  same  as  a  forecastle-man 
does  his  marling-spike,  or  a  tailor  his  goose.  They  say 
he'll  lift  a  potash  kettle  off  the  arch  alone,  though  I  can't 
say  that  I've  ever  seen  him  do  it  with  my  own  eyes;  but 
that  is  the  say.  And  I've  seen  sugar  of  his  making,  which, 
maybe,  wasn't  as  white  as  an  old  topgallant-sail,  but  which 
my  friend  Mistress  Prettybones,  within  there,  said  had  the 
true  molasses  smack  to  it;  and  you  are  not  the  one,  Squire 
Dickens,  to  be  told  that  Mistress  Remarkable  has  a  re- 
markable tooth  for  sweet  things,  in  her  nut  grinder." 


THE  PIONEERS. 


203 


The  loud  laugh  that  succeeded  the  wit  of  Benjamin, 
and  in  which  he  participated,  with  no  very  harmonious 
sounds,  himself,  very  fully  illustrated  the  congenial  temper 
which  existed  between  the  pair.  Most  of  its  point  was, 
however,  lost  on  the  rest  of  the  party,  who  were  either 
mounting  their  horses  or  assisting  the  ladies  at  the  mo- 
ment. When  all  were  safely  in  their  saddles,  they  moved 
through  the  village  in  great  order.  They  paused  for  a 
moment  before  the  door  of  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  until  he 
could  bestride  his  steed,  and  then  issuing  from  the  little 
cluster  of  houses,  they  took  one  of  the  principal  of  those 
highways  that  centered  in  the  village. 

As  each  night  brought  with  it  a  severe  frost,  which  the 
heat  of  the  succeeding  day  served  to  dissipate,  the  eques- 
trians were  compelled  to  proceed  singly  along  the  margin 
of  the  road,  where  the  turf,  and  firmness  of  the  ground, 
gave  the  horses  a  secure  footing.  Very  trifling  indications 
of  vegetation  were  to  be  seen,  the  surface  of  the  earth 
presenting  a  cold,  wet,  and  cheerless  aspect  that  chilled 
the  blood.  The  snow  yet  lay  scattered  over  most  of  those 
distant  clearings  that  were  visible  in  different  parts  of  the 
mountains;  though  here  and  there  an  opening  might  be 
seen,  where  as  the  white  covering  yielded  to  the  season, 
the  bright  and  lively  green  of  the  wheat  served  to  enkindle 
the  hopes  of  the  husbandman.  Nothing  could  be  more 
marked  than  the  contrast  between  the  earth  and  the  heav- 
ens; for,  while  the  former  presented  the  dreary  view  that 
we  have  described,  a  warm  and  invigorating  sun  was  dis- 
pensing his  heats  from  a  sky  that  contained  but  a  solitary 
cloud,  and  through  an  atmosphere  that  softened  the  colors 
of  the  sensible  horizon  until  it  shone  like  a  sea  of  blue. 

Richard  led  the  way,  on  this,  as  on  all  other  occasions, 
that  did  not  require  the  exercise  of  unusual  abilities;  and 
as  he  moved  along,  he  essayed  to  enliven  the  party  with 
the  sounds  of  his  experienced  voice. 

"This  is  your  true  sugar  weather,  "Duke,"  he  cried;  "a 
frosty  night  and  a  sunshiny  day.  I  warrant  me  that  the 
sap  runs  like  a  mill-tail  up  the  maples  this  warm  morning. 
It  is  a  pity,  Judge,  that  you  do  not  introduce  a  little  more 
science  into  the  manufacture  of  sugar  among  your  tenants. 
It  might  be  done,  sir,  without  knowing  as  much  as  Doctor 
Franklin— it  might  be  done,  Judge  Temple." 

"The  first  object  of  my  solicitude,  friend  Jones,"  re- 
turned Marmaduke, (<  is  to  protect  the  sources  of  this  great 


204 


THE  PIONEERS. 


mine  of  comfort  and  wealth  from  the  extravagance  of  the 
people  themselves.  When  this  important  point  shall  be 
achieved,  it  will  be  in  season  to  turn  our  attention  to  an 
improvement  in  the  manufacture  of  the  article.  But  thou 
knowest,  Bichard,  that  I  have  already  subjected  our  sugar 
to  the  process  of  the  refiner,  and  that  the  result  has  pro- 
duced loaves  as  white  as  the  snow  on  yon  fields,  and  pos- 
sessing the  saccharine  quality  in  its  utmost  purity." 

"Saccharine,  or  turpentine,  or  any  other  'ine,  Judge 
Temple,  you  have  never  made  a  loaf  larger  than  a  good 
sized  sugar-plum/'  returned  the  Sheriff.  "Now,  sir,  I 
assert  that  no  experiment  is  fairly  tried,  until  it  be  re- 
duced to  practical  purposes.  If,  sir,  I  owned  a  hundred, 
or,  for  that  matter,  two  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land,  as 
you  do,  I  would  build  a  sugar-house  in  the  village;  I  would 
invite  learned  men  to  an  investigation  of  the  subject, — and 
such  are  easily  to  be  found,  sir ;  yes  sir,  they  are  not  difficult 
to  find, — men  who  unite  theory  with  practice ;  and  I  would 
select  a  wood  of  young  and  thrifty  trees;  and  instead  of 
making  loaves  of  the  size  of  a  lump  of  candy,  dam'me, 
'Duke,  but  Fd  have  them  as  big  as  a  haycock." 

"And  purchase  the  cargo  of  one  of  those  ships  that  they 
say  are  going  to  China,"  cried  Elizabeth;  "turn  your 
potash-kettles  into  tea-cups,  the  scows  on  the  lake  into 
saucers ;  bake  your  cake  in  yonder  lime-kiln,  and  invite 
the  county  to  a  tea-party.  How  wonderful  are  the  projects 
of  genius !  Eeally,  sir,  the  world  is  of  opinion  that  Judge 
Temple  has  tried  the  experiment  fairly,  though  he  did  not 
cause  his  loaves  to  be  cast  in  moulds  of  the  magnitude 
that  would  suit  your  magnificent  conceptions." 

"You  may  laugh,  cousin  Elizabeth — you  may  laugh, 
madam,"  retorted  Richard,  turning  himself  so  much  in  his 
saddle  as  to  face  the  party,  and  making  dignified  gestures 
with  his  whip;  "but  I  appeal  to  common  sense,  good 
sense,  or,  what  is  of  more  importance  than  either,  to  the 
sense  of  taste,  which  is  one  of  the  five  natural  senses, 
whether  a  big  loaf  of  sugar  is  not  likely  to  contain  a  better 
illustration  of  a  proposition  than  such  a  lump  as  one  of 
our  Dutch  women  puts  under  her  tongue  when  she  drinks 
^er  tea.  There  are  two  ways  of  doing  everything;  the 
right  way,  and  the  wrong  way.  You  make  sugar  now,  I 
will  admit,  and  you  may,  possibly,  make  loaf-sugar;  but  I 
take  the  que'stion  to  be,  whether  you  may  make  the  best 
possible  sugar,  and  in  the  best  possible  loaves." 


THE  PIONEERS.  205 


"Thou  art  very  right,  Richard,"  observed  Marmaduke, 
with  a  gravity  in  his  air  that  proved  how  much  he  was 
interested  in  the  subject.  "  It  is  very  true  that  we  manu- 
facture sugar,  and  the  inquiry  is  quite  useful  how  much  t 
and  in  what  manner  ?  I  hope  to  live  to  see  the  day,  when 
iarms  and  plantations  shall  be  devoted  to  .this  branch  of 
business.  Little  is  known  concerning  the  properties  ol 
iie  tree  itself,  the  source  of  all  this  wealth;  how  much  it 
may  be  improved  by  cultivation,  by  the  use  of  the  hoe  and 

pl"Hoe  and  plough!"  roared  the  Sheriff,  "would  you  set 
a  man  hoeing  round  the  root  of  a  maple  like  this — 
pointing  to  one  of  the  noble  trees  that  occur  so  frequently 
in  that  part  of  the  country.  "  Hoeing  trees !  are  you  mad 
'Duke?  This  is  next  to  hunting  for  coal!  Poh !  poh! 
my  dear  cousin,  hear  reason,  and  leave  the  management  ot 
the  sugar  bush  to  me.  Here  is  Mr.  Le  Quoi,— he  has  been 
in  the  West  Indies,  and  has  seen  sugar  made.  Let  him 
g  ve  an  account  of  how  it  is  made  there,  and  you  will  hear 
tie  philosophy  of  the  thing.  Well,  Monsieur,  how  is  it 
that  you  make  sugar  in  the  West  Indies;  anything  m 
Jidge  Temple's  fashion  ?" 

The  gentleman  to  whom  this  query  was  put  was  mounted 
on  a  small  horse,  of  no  very  fiery  temperament  and  was 
riding  with  his  stirrups  so  short,  as  to  bring  his  knees, 
wliile  the  animal  rose  a  small  ascent  in  the  wood-path  they 
were  now  travelling,  into  a  somewhat  hazardous  vicinity 
to  his  chin.  There  was  no  room  for  gesticulation  or  grace 
in  the  delivery  of  his  reply,  for  the  mountain  was  steep 
and  slippery;  and  although  the  Frenchman  had  an  eye  ot 
uncommon  magnitude  on  either  side  of  his  face,  they  did 
not  seem  to  be  half  competent  to  forewarn  him  of  the 
impediments  of  bushes,  twigs,  and  fallen  trees  that  were 
nnrmentarily  crossing  his  path.  With  one  hand  employed 
in  averting  these  dangers,  and  the  other  grasping  his 
bridle,  to  check  an  untoward  speed  that  his  horse  was  as- 
suring, the  native  of  France  responded  as  follows  — 

"  Sucre!  dey  do  make  sucre  in  Martinique :  mais— mais 
cen'est  pas  one  tree;  ah— ah— vat  you  call— je  voudrois 
qu3  ces  chemins  fussent  au  diable— vat  you  call— steeck 
pour  le  promenade."  .  ,  .  , 

tf  Cane,"  said  Elizabeth,  smiling  at  the  imprecation  which 
thd  wary  Frenchman  supposed  was  understood  only  by 
himself. 


206 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  Oui,  Mam'selle,  cane." 

"  Yes,  yes/'  cried  Richard,  "  cane  is  the  vulgar  name  for 
it,  but  the  real  term  is  saccharum  officinarum ;  and  what 
we  called  the  sugar,  or  hard  maple,  is  acer  saccharinum. 
These  are  the  learned  names,  Monsieur,  and  are  such  as, 
doubtless,  you  well  understand." 

"  Is  this  Greek  or  Latin,  Mr.  Edwards  ? "  whispered 
Elizabeth  to  the  youth,  who  was  opening  a  passage  for  her- 
self and  her  companions  through  the  bushes;  "or  perhaps 
it  is  a  still  more  learned  language,  for  an  interpretation  of 
which  we  must  look  to  you." 

The  dark  eye  of  the  young  man'  glanced  towards  the 
speaker,  but  its  resentful  expression  changed  in  a  moment. 

"  I  shall  remember  your  doubts,  Miss  Temple,  when 
next  I  visit  my  old  friend  Mohegan,  and  either  his  skill, 
or  that  of  Leather-Stocking,  shall  solve  them." 

"And  are  you,  then,  really  ignorant  of  their  language  ? 
"  Not  absolutely ;  but  the  deep  learning  of  Mr.  Jones  s 
more  familiar  to  me,  or  even  the  polite  masquerade  of 
Monsieur  Le  Quoi." 

"  Do  you  speak  French  ?  "  said  the  lady,  with  quickness. 
"  It  is  a  common  language  with  the  Iroquois,  and  through 
the  Canadas,"  he  answered  smiling. 

"Ah !  but  they  are  Mingos,  and  your  enemies." 
"It  will  be  well  for  me  if  I  have  no  worse,"  said  the 
youth,  dashing  ahead  with  his  horse,  and  putting  an  end 
to  the  evasive  dialogue. 

The  discourse,  however,  was  maintained  with  great  vigor 
by  Richard,  until  they  reached  an  open  wood  on  the  sum- 
mit of  the  mountain,  where  the  hemlocks  and  pines  totally 
disappeared,  and  a  grove  of  the  very  trees  that  formed  the 
subject  of  debate  covered  the  earth  with  their  tall,  straight 
trunks  and  spreading  branches,  in  stately  pride.  Tiie 
underwood  had  been  entirely  removed  from  this  grove,  or 
bush,  as  in  conjunction  with  the  simple  arrangements  for 
boiling,  it  was  called,  and  a  wide  space  of  many  acres  vas 
cleared,  which  might  be  likened  to  the  dome  of  a  miglty 
temple,  to  which  the  maples  formed  .the  columns,  tlisir 
tops  composing  the  capitals,  and  the  heavens  the  arch.  A 
deep  and  careless  incision  had  been  made  into  each  tree, 
near  its  root,  into  which  little  sprouts,  formed  of  the  bark 
of  the  alder,  or  of  the  sumach,  were  fastened;  and  a 
trough,  roughly  dug  out  of  the  linden,  or  basswood,  wis 
lying  at  the  root  of  each  tree,  to  catch  the  sap  that  flowed 


THE  PIONEERS.  20? 
went.  thiS  °Xtremo^  wasteful  and  inartificial  arrangc- 

hJ^M^  rUSed  a  1moment.  on  gaining  the  flat,  to 
breathe  their  horses,  and,  as  the  scene  was  entirely  new  to 

IT  numbey?  «cw  the  manner  of  collecting 
the  fluid.    A  fine  powerful  voice  aroused  them  from  their 
momentary  silence  as  it  rang  under  the  branches  of  the 
S,!'gl"g  th°  *?l0win«  worf,s  of  that  inimitable  dog! 
of  the  Connecticut  to  the  shores  of  Ontario.    The  tune 

to  W  Sff  ffmiiliar,air'  which'  althouSh  «  is  ^ 
«t,™l  l  -  St  appll^d  t0  hls  nation  in  derisfen,  circum- 
stances have  since  rendered  so  glorious,  that  no  American 

hkheaT  g  °adenCe  With0U*  feeling  a 

"The  Eastern  States  be  full  of  men, 

™hllls  be  hke  a  cattle-pen, 
lhe  roads  be  full  of  goods,  sir  i 

ThAen  flow  away,  my  sweety  sap, 

And  I  will  make  you  boily ; 
Nor  catch  a  woodman's  hasty  nap 
For  fear  you  should  get  roily. 

"T^mmapIe  tree1s  a  precious  one, 
Tis  fuel,  food,  and  timber: 
And  when  your  stiff  day's  work  is  done, 
its  juice  will  make  you  limber. 
Then  flow  away,  etc. 

"  And  what's  a  man  without  his  glass 
His  wife  without  her  tea,  sir  ? 

w-*£lth^xc.u*? nor  muS  wm  Pass, 
Without  this  honey-bee,  sir  1 
Then  flow  away,  "etc. 

During  the  execution  of  this  sonorous  doggerel,  Eichard 
kept  time  with  his  whip  on  the  mane  of  hfs  charger  ac^ 
companymg  the  gestures  with  a  corresponding  mofen  ent 
of  his  head  and  body.  Towards  the  close  of  the  soug  he 
was  overheard  humming  the  chorus,  and  at  its  last  repeti! 

£6  m  t  SWeety  sap"  and  ca"7  a  second 
through,  with  a  prodigious  addition  to  the  "effect"  of  the 
noise,  if  not  to  that  of  the  harmony 

fiHte1"'  roa^d  the  Sheriff,  on  the  same  key 
with  the  tune,"  'a  very  good  song,  Billy  Kirby,  and  very 
of  I  Zf-  WheT%  So\  you  the  words,  lad  ?  is  there  more 
ot  it  and  can  you  furnish  me  with  a  copy  ?  " 

The  sugar-boiler,  who  was  busy  in  his  "camp,"  at  a  short 
distance  from  the  equestrians,  turned  his  head  with  great 
indifference,  and  surveyed  the  party,  as  they  approached 


2o8  THE  PIONEERS. 

with  admirable  coolness.  To  each  individual,  as  he  or  she 
rode  close  by  him,  he  gave  a  nod  that  was  extremely  good- 
natured  and  affable,  but  which  partook  largely  of  the 
virtue  of  equality,  for  not  even  to  the  ladies  did  he  m  the 
least  vary  his  mode  of  salutation,  by  touching  the  apology 
for  a  hat  that  he  wore,  or  by  any  other  motion  than  the 
one  we  have  mentioned. 

"How  goes  it,  how  goes  it,  Sheriff?"  said  the  wood- 
chopper;  "  what's  the  good  word  in  the  village  ? 

"Why,  much  as  usual,  Billy,"  returned  Richard.  But 
how  is  this  ?  where  are  your  four  kettles,  and  your  troughs 
and  your  iron  coolers  ?  Do  you  make  sugar  m  this  slovenly 
way  ?  I  thought  you  were  one  of  the  best  sugar-boilers  m 
the  county."  ,  . 

"I'm  all  that,  Squire  Jones,"  said  Kirby,  who  continued 
his  occupation ;  "  Til  turn  my  back  to  no  man  m  the  Otsego 
hills,  for  chopping  and  logging,  for  boiling  down  the 
maple  sap,  for  tending  brick-kiln,  splitting  out  rails  mak- 
ing potash,  and  parling  too,  or  hoeing  corn;  though 1  keep 
myself  pretty  much  to  the  first  business,  seeing  that  the 
axe  comes  most  natural  to  me." 

"  You  be  von  Jack  All-trade,  Mister  Beel,"  said  Monsieur 

Le  Quoi.  .  ..  . 

"How?"  said  Kirby,  looking  up,  with  a  simplicity 
which,  coupled  with  his  gigantic  frame  and  manly  face, 
was  a  little  ridiculous,  "  if  you  be  for  trade,  Mounsher, 
here  is  some  as  good  sugar  as  you'll  find  the  season  through. 
It's  as  clear  from  dirt,  as  the  Garman  Flats  is  free  from 
stumps,  and  it  has  the  raal  maple  flavor.  Such  stuff  would 
sell  in  York  for  candy." 

The  Frenchman  approached  the  place  where  Kirby  had 
deposited  his  cakes  of  sugar,  under  the  cover  of  a  bark  roof, 
and  commenced  the  examination  of  the  article,  with  the 
eye  of  one  who  well  understood  its  value.  Marmaduke 
had  dismounted,  and  was  viewing  the  works  and  the  trees 
very  closely,  and  not  without  frequent  expressions  ot  dis- 
satisfaction at  the  careless  manner  in  which  the  manu- 
facture was  conducted.  w 

"You  have  much  experience  in  these  things,  Kirov, 
he  said;  "what  course  do  you  pursue  in  making  your 
sugar  ?    I  see  you  have  but  two  kettles." 

"Two  is  as  good  as  two  thousand,  Judge.  I'm  none  of 
your  polite  sugar-makers,  that  boils  for  the  great  folks; 
but  if  the  raal  sweet  maple  is  wanted,  I  can  answer  your 


THE  PIONEERS.  209 

turn.  First,  I  choose,  and  then  I  tap  my  trees;  say  along 
about  the  last  of  February,  or  in  these  mountains,  maybe 
not  afore  the  middle  of  March ;  but  anyway,  just  as  the 
sap  begins  to  cleverly  run  " — 

"  Well,  in  this  choice,"  interrupted  Marmaduke,  "are 
you  governed  by  any  outward  signs  that  prove  the  quality 
of  the  tree  ?" 

.  "Why,  there's  judgment  in  all  things/'  said  Kirby,  stir- 
ring the  liquor  in  his  kettles  briskly.  "  There's  something 
in  knowing  when  and  how  much  to  stir  the  pot.  It's  a 
thing  that  must  be  larnt.  Rome  wasn't  built  in  a  day, 
nor  for  that  matter  Templetown  either,  though  it  may  be 
said  to  be  a  quick-growing  place.  I  never  put  my  axe 
into  a  stunty  tree,  or  one  that  hasn't  a  good  fresh-looking 
bark;  for  trees  have  disorders,  like  creatur's;  and  where's 
the  ^  policy  of  taking  a  tree  that's  sickly,  any  more  than 
you'd  choose  a  foundered  horse  to  ride  post,  or  an  over- 
heated ox  to  do  your  logging  ?  " 

"All  this  is  true.  But  what  are  the  signs  of  illness  ? 
how  do  you  distinguish  a  tree  that  is  well  from  one  that  is 
diseased  ? " 

"How  does  the  doctor  tell  who  has  fever,  and  who 
colds?"  interrupted  Richard.  "By  examining  the  skin, 
and  feeling  the  pulse,  to  be  sure." 

"Sartain,"  continued  Billy;  "the  Squire  ain't  far  out 
of  the  way.  It's  by  the  look  of  the  thing,  sure  enough. 
Well,  when  the  sap  begins  to  get  a  free  run,  I  hang  over 
the  kettles,  and  set  up  the  bush.  My  first  boiling  I  push 
pretty  smartly,  till  I  get  the  virtue  of  the  sap;  but  when 
it  begins  to  grow  of  a  molasses  natur',  like  this  in  the 
kettle,  one  mustn't  drive  the  fires  too  hard,  or  you'll  burn 
the  sugar;  and  burny  sugar  is  bad  to  the  taste,  let  it  be 
never  so  sweet.  So  you  ladle  out  from  one  kettle  into  the 
other  till  it  gets  so,  when  you  put  the  stirring  stick  into 
it,  that  it  will  draw  into  a  thread— when  it  takes  a  kerful 
hand  to  manage  *' 
has  grained,  by  r 

always  practiced,    _ 

Mounsher,  be  we  likely  to  make  a  trade  ? 

2iTwillTgive  you'  Mister  Beel>  for  von  Pound,  dix  sous." 
No,  I  expect  cash  for't;  I  never  dicker  my  sugar. 
But  seeing  it's  you,  Mounsher,"  said  Billy,  with  a  coaxing 
smile,    1 11  agree  to  receive  a  gallon  of  rum,  and  cloth 
enough  for  two  shirts,  if  you  will  take  the  molasses  in  the 


210 


THE  PIONEERS. 


bargain.  It's  raal  good.  I  wouldn't  deceive  you  or  any 
man;  and  to  my  drinking -  it's  about  the  best  molasses  that 
come  out  of  a  sugar-bush/' 

«  Mr.  Le  Quoi  has  offered  you  ten  pence,    said  young 

Edwards.  -       _        ...  .  » 

The  manufacturer  stared  at  the  speaker  with  an  air  ot 
great  freedom,  but  made  no  reply. 

"Oui,"  said  the  Frenchman,  "  ten  penny.    Je  vous  re- 
mercie,  Monsieur:  ah!  mon  Anglais!  je  l'oublie  toujours 

The  wood-chopper  looked  from  one  to  the  other  with 
some  displeasure;  and  evidently  imbibed  the  opmion  that 
they  were  amusing  themselves  at  his  expense.  He  seized 
the  enormous  ladle,  which  was  lying  in  one  of  his  kettles, 
and  began  to  stir  the  boiling  liquid  with  great  diligence. 
After  a  moment  passed  in  dipping  the  ladle  full,  and  then 
raising  it  on  high,  as  the  thick,  rich  fluid  fell  back  into 
the  kettle,  he  suddenly  gave  it  a  whirl,  as  if  to  cool  what 
yet  remained,  and  offered  the  bowl  to  Mr.  Le  Quoi,  saying,— 

"  Taste  that,  Mounsher,  and  you  will  say  it  is  wortn 
more  than  you  offer.    The  molasses  itself  would  fetch  the 

m°The' complaisant  Frenchman,  after  several  timid  efforts 
to  trust  his  lips  in  contact  with  the  bowl  of  the  ladle,  got 
a  good  swallow  of  the  scalding  liquid.  He  gapped  his 
hand  on  his  breast  and  looked  most  piteously  at  the  ladies 
for  a  single  instant;  and  then,  to  use  the  language  of 
Billy,  when  he  afterwards  recounted  the  tale,  JS.0  drum- 
sticks ever  went  faster  on  the  skin  of  a  sheep  than  the 
Frenchman's  legs,  for  a  round  or  two:  and  then  such 
swearing  and  spitting  in  French  you  never  saw.  But  it  s 
a  knowing  one,  from  the  old  countries,  that  thinks  to  get 
his  iokes  smoothly  over  a  wood-chopper." 

The  air  of  innocence  with  which  Kirby  resumed  the  oc- 
cupation of  stirring  the  contents  of  his  kettle  would  have 
completely  deceived  the  spectators  as  to  his  agency  in  the 
temporary  suffering  of  Mr.  Le  Quoi  had  not  the  reckless 
fellow  thrust  his  tongue  into  his  cheek,  and  cast  his  eyes 
over  the  party,  with  a  simplicity  of  expression  that  was 
too  exquisite  to  be  natural.  Mr.  Le  Quoi  soon  recover^ 
his  presence  of  mind,  and  his  decorum;  he  briefly  apolo- 
gized to  the  ladies  for  one  or  two  very  intemperate  ex- 
pressions that  had  escaped  him  in  a  moment  of  extraordi- 
nary excitement,  and  remounting  his  horse  he  continued 
in  the  background  during  the  remainder  of  the  visit,  the 


THE  PIONEERS.  2it 

wit  of  Kirby  putting  a  violent  termination,  at  once,  to  all 
negotiations  on  the  subject  of  trade.  During  all  this  time 
Marmaduke  had  been  wandering  about  the  grove,  making 
observations  on  his  favorite  trees,  and  the  wasteful  man- 
ner m  which  the  wood-chopper  conducted  his  manufacture. 

It  grieves  me  to  witness  the  extravagance  that  pervades 
this  country/' said  the  Judge,  "where  the  settlers  trifle 
with  the  blessings  they  might  enjoy,  with  the  prodigality 
oi  successful  adventurers.    You  are  not  exempt  from  the 
censure  yourself,  Kirby,  for  you  make  dreadful  wounds  in 
these  trees  where  a  small  incision  would  effect  the  same 
object.    I  earnestly  beg  you  will  remember  that  they  are 
the  growth  of  centuries,  and  when  once  gone,  none  living 
will  see  their  loss  remedied."  8 
"  Why,  I  don't  know,  Judge,"  returned  the  man  he  ad- 
dressed:   it  seems  to  me,  if  there's  plenty  of  anything  in 
this  mountaynious  country,  it's  the  trees.    If  there's  any 
sin  m  chopping  them,  I've  a  pretty  heavy  account  to 
settle;  for  I  ve  chopped  over  the  best  half  of  a  thousand 
acres,  with  my  own  hands,  counting  both  Varmount  and 
lork  btates;  and  I  hope  to  live  to  finish  the  hull,  before 
I  lay  up  my  axe.    Chopping  comes  quite  natural  to  me, 
5? \  V™£  n°  ?the^  emP%ment;  but  Jared  Ransom  said 
that  he  thought  the  sugar  was  likely  to  be  source  this 
season,  seeing  that  so  many  folks  was  coming  into  the 
settlement,  and  so  I  concluded  to  take  the  'bush'  on 
sheares,  for  this  one  spring.   What's  the  best  news,  Judffe 
consarning  ashes  ?  do  pots  hold  so  that  a  man  can  live  by 
them  still  ?    I  s'pose  they  will,  if  they  keep  on  fighting 
across  the  water."  &  8 

"Thou  reasonest  with  judgment,  William,"  returned 
Marmaduke.  "So  long  as  the  old  world  is  to  be  convulsed 
T™'s,°  long  will  the  harvest  of  America  continue." 

Well  its  an  ill  wind,  Judge,  that  blows  nobody  any 
Ft0 0dV  SUre  tlie  C0Untl7  is  in 'a  th riving  way;  and, 
though  I  know  you  calkilate  greatly  on  the  trees,  setting 
as  much  store  by  them  as  some  men  would  by  their  chil- 
dren, yet  to  my  eyes  they  are  a  sore  sight  at  any  time, 
unless  I  m  privileged  to  work  my  will  on  them;  in  which 
case  I  can  t  say  but  they  are  more  to  my  liking.  I  have 
heard  the  settlers  from  the  old  countries  say  that  their 
rich  men  keep  great  oaks  and  elms,  that  would  make  a 
barrel  of  pots  to  the  tree,  standing  round  their  doors  and 
numsteads,  and  scattered  over  their  farms,  just  to  look  at 


2I4  THE  PIONEERS. 

Now,  I  call  no  country  much  improved,  that  is  pretty  well 
covered  with  trees.  Stumps  are  a  different  thing,  for  they 
don't  shade  the  land;  and  besides,  if  you  dig  them,  they 
make  a  fence  that  will  turn  anything  bigger  than  a  hog, 
being  grand  for  breachy  cattle." 

"Opinions  on  such  subjects  vary  much  m  different 
countries/' said  Marmaduke;  "but  it  is  not  as  ornaments 
that  I  value  the  noble  trees  of  this  country;  it  is  for  their 
usefulness.  We  are  stripping  the  forests,  as  if  a  single  year 
would  replace  what  we  destroy.  But  the  hour  approaches 
when  the  laws  will  take  notice  of  not  only  the  woods,  but 
the  game  they  contain  also." 

With  this  consoling  reflection,  Marmaduke  remounted, 
and  the  equestrians  passed  the  sugar-camp,  on  their  way 
to  the  promised  landscape  of  Richard.  The  wood-chopper 
was  left  alone,  in  the  bosom  of  the  forest,  to  pursue  his 
labors.  Elizabeth  turned  her  head,  when  they  reached 
the  point  where  they  were  to  descend  the  mountain,  and 
thought  that  the  slow  fires  that  were  glimmering  under 
his  enormous  kettles,  his  little  brush  shelter,  covered  with 
pieces  of  hemlock  bark,  his  gigantic  size,  as  he  wielded  his 
ladle  with  a  steady  and  knowing  air,  aided  by  the  back- 
ground of  stately  trees,  with  their  spouts  and  troughs, 
formed,  all  together,  no  unreal  picture  of  human  lite  m  its 
first  stages  of  civilization.  Perhaps  whatever  the  scene 
possessed  of  a  romantic  character  was  not  injured  by  the 
powerful  tones  of  Kirby's  voice  ringing  through  the  woods, 
as  he  again  awoke  his  strains  to  another  tune,  which  was 
but  little  more  scientific  than  the  former.  All  that  she 
understood  of  the  words  were,— 

"  And  when  the  proud  forest  is  f ailing, 
To  my  oxen  cheerfully  calling, 
From  morn  until  night  I  am  bawling, 
Woa,  back  there,  and  hoy  and  gee; 
Till  our  labor  js  mutually  ended, 
By  my  strength  and  cattle  befriended, 
And  agaiust  the  mosquitoes  defended, 
By  the  bark  of  the  walnut-tree. 

'Away  !  then,  you  lads  who  would  buy  land, 
Choose  the  oak  that  grows  on  the  high  land, 
Or  the  silvery  pine  on  the  dry  land, 
It  matters  but  little  to  me.' 


THE  PIONEERS. 


213 


.     CHAPTER  XXI. 

Speed  !  Malise,  speed  !  such  cause  of  haste 

Thine  active  sinews  never  braced.  Scott. 

The  roads  of  Otsego,  if  we  except  the  principal  high- 
ways, were,  at  the  early  day  of  our  tale,  but  little  better 
than  woodpaths.  The  high  trees  that  were  growing  on 
the  very  verge  of  the  wheel -tracks  excluded  the  sun's  rays, 
unless  at  meridian;  and  the  slowness  of  the  evaporation, 
united  with  the  rich  mould  of  vegetable  decomposition 
that  covered  the  whole  country  to  the  depth  of  several 
inches,  occasioned  but  an  indifferent  foundation  for  the 
footing  of  travellers.  Added  to  these  were  the  inequalities 
of  a  natural  surface,  and  the  constant  recurrence  of  enor- 
mous and  slippery  roots  that  were  laid  bare  by  the  removal 
of  the  light  soil,  together  with  stumps  of  trees,  to  make  a 
passage  not  only  difficult  but  dangerous.  Yet  the  riders, 
among  these  numerous  obstructions,  which  were  such  as 
would  terrify  an  unpracticed  eye,  gave  no  demonstrations 
of  uneasiness,  as  their  horses  toiled  through  the  sloughs, 
or  trotted  with  uncertain  paces  along  the  dark  route.  In 
many  places,  the  marks  on  the  trees  were  the  only  indica- 
tions of  a  road,  with  perhaps  an  occasional  remnant  of  a 
pine,  that,  by  being  cut  close  to  the  earth,  so  as  to  leave 
nothing  visible  but  its  base  of  roots,  spreading  for  twenty 
feet  in  every  direction,  was  apparently  placed  there  as  a 
beacon  to  warn  the  traveller  that  it  was  the  centre  of  a 
highway. 

Into  one  of  these  roads  the  active  Sheriff  led  the  way, 
first  striking  out  of  the  footpath,  by  which  they  had  de- 
scended from  the  sugar  bush,  across  a  little  bridge,  formed 
of  round  logs  laid  loosely  on  sleepers  of  pine,  in  which 
large  openings  of  a  formidable  width  were  frequent. 
The  nag  of  Richard,  when  it  reached  one  of  these  gaps, 
laid  its  nose  along  the  logs,  and  stepped  across  the  difficult 
passage  with  the  sagacity  of  a  man;  but  the  blooded  filly 


2I4  THE  PIONEERS. 

which  Miss  Temple  rode  disdained  so  humble  a  move- 
ment. She  made  a  step  or  two  with  an  unusual  caution, 
anl  then  on  reaching  the  broadest  opening  obedient  to 
M  e  curb  and  whip  of  her  fearless  mistress  she  bounded 
across  the  dangerous  pass  with  the  activity  of  a  squirrel. 

"  Gently,  gently,  my  child,"  said  Marmaduke,  who  was 
following^  the  manner  of  Richard,  "  this  is  not  a  coun- 
try for  equestrian  feats.  Much  prudence  is  requisite  te 
iourney  through  our  rough  paths  with  safety.  Thou 
Lyestpracticl  thy  skill  in  horsemanship  on  the  plan  of 
New  Jersey  with  safety;  btrt  in  the  hills  of  Otsego  they 
may  be  suspended  for  a  time." 

h  may  as  well  then  relinquish  my  saddle  at  once,  dear 
sir,"  returned  his  daughter;  "for  if 

until  this  wild  country  be  improved,  old  age  iM| 
me,  and  put  an  end  to  what  you  term  my  equestria,  sats. 

"Say  not  so,  my  child,"  returned  her  father,  but  it 
thou  venturest  again,  as  in  crossing  this  bridge,  old  age 
will  never  overtake  thee,  but  I  shall  be  left  to  mourn  thee, 
cut  off  in  thy  pride,  my  Elizabeth.  If  thou  hadst  seen 
«  s  district  of  country,  as  I  did,  when  it  lay  m  the  sleep 
of  nature,  and  had  witnessed  its  rapid  changes,; »  i*  awoke 
to  supply  the  wants  of  man,  thou  wouldst  curb  thy  impa- 
UenceP  for  a  little  time,  though  thou  shouldst  not  check 

th"Itereecollect  hearing  you  speak  of  your  An*  vWVto 
these  woods  but  the  impression  is  faint,  and  blended  with 
the  confused  images  of  childhood.  Wild  and  unsettled 
as  it  ma?  yet  seem,  it  must  have  been  a  thousand  times 
more  dreary  then.  Will  you  repeat,  dear  sir  what  you 
then  thought  of  your  enterprise,  and  what  you  leit  r 

During  this  speech  of  Elizabeth,  which  was  uttered 
with  thf  fervor  of  affection,  young  Edwards  rode  more 
closely  to  the  side  of  the  Judge,  and  bent  te**<£> 
on  his  countenance  with  an  expression  that  seemed  to  read 

hi"Thou  wast  then  young,  my  child  but  must  remember 
when  I  left  thee  and  thy  mother,  to  take  my  first  saney 
of  these  uninhabited  mountains.  ^^^uke  *U* 
thou  dost  not  feel  all  the  secret  motives  that  can  urge  a 
man  to  endure  privations  in  order  to  ^J*ft™££ 
In  mv  case  they  have  not  been  trifling,  and  God  lias  been 
flSZ  smile  on  my  efforts.  If  ''--,~m^ 
pain,  famine,  and  disease,  in  accomplishing  the  settlement 


THE  PIONEERS. 


215 


of  this  rough  territory,  I  have  not  tho  misery  of  failure  to 
add  to  the  grievances." 

"Famine!"  echoed  Elizabeth-;  "I   thought  this  wass 
the  land  of  abundance!   had  you  famine  to  contend 
with  ?  " 

"  Even  so,  my  child,"  said  her  father.  "  Those  who  look 
around  them  now,  and  see  the  loads  of  produce  that  issue 
out  of  every  wild  path  in  these  mountains,  during  the  sea- 
son of  travelling,  will  hardly  credit  that  no  more  than 
five  years  have  elapsed,  since  the  tenants  of  these  woods 
were  compelled  to  eat  the  scanty  fruits  of  the  forest  to 
sustain  life,  and,  with  their  unpracticed  skill,  to  hunt  the 
beasts  as  food  for  their  starving  families." 

"Aye!"  cried  Richard,  who  happened  to  overhear  the 
last  of  this  speech,  between  the  notes  of  the  wood-chopper's 
song,  which  he  was  endeavoring  to  breathe  aloud ;  "  that 
was  the  starving  time,1  cousin  Bess.  I  grew  as  lank  as  a 
weasel  that  fall,  and  my  face  was  as  pale  as  one  of  your 
fever-and-ague  visages.  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  there,  fell 
away  like  a  pumpkin  in  drying;  nor  do  I  think  you  have 
got  fairly  over  it  yet,  Monsieur.  Benjamin,  I  thought, 
bore  it  with  a  worse  grace  than  any  of  the  family;  for  he 
swore  it  was  harder  to  endure  than  a  short  allowance  in 
the  calm  latitudes.  Benjamin  is  a  sad  fellow  to  swear,  if 
you  starve  him  ever  so  little.  I  had  a  half  a  mind  to  quit 
you  then,  'Duke,  and  to  go  into  Pennsylvania  to  fatten; 
but,  damn  it,  thinks  I,  we  are  sisters'  children,  and  I  will 
live  or  die  with  him,  after  all." 

"  I  do  not  forget  thy  kindness,"  said  Marmaduke,  "  nor 
that  we  are  of  one  blood." 

"  But,  my  dear  father,"  cried  the  wondering  Elizabeth, 
"  was  there  actual  suffering  ?  where  were  the  beautiful  and 
fertile  vales  of  the  Mohawk  ?  could  they  not  furnish  food 
for  your  wants  ?  " 

"  It  was  a  season  of  scarcity ;  the  necessities  of  life  com- 
manded a  high  price  in  Europe,  and  were  greedily  sought 


1  The  author  has  no  better  apology  for  interrupting  the  interest  of  a  work  of 
fiction  by  these  desultory  dialogues,  than  that  they  have  reference  to  facts.  In 
reviewing  his  work,  after  so  many  years,  he  is  compelled  to  confess  it  is  injured 
by  too  many  allusions  to  incidents  that  are  not  at  all  suited  to  satisfy  the  just 
expectations  of  the  general  reader.  One  of  these  events  is  slightly  touched  on, 
in  the  commencement  of  this  chapter. 

More  than  thirty  years  since,  a  very  near  and  dear  relative  of  the  writer,  an 
elder  sister  and  a  second  mother,  was  killed  by  a  fall  from  a  horse,  in  a  ride 
among  the  very  mountains  mentioned  in  this  tale.  Few  of  her  sex  and  years 
were  more  extensively  known,  or  more  universally  beloved,  than  the  admirable 
woman  who  thus  fell  a  victim  to  the  chances  of  the  wilderness. 


2l6 


THE  PIONEERS. 


after  by  the  speculators.  The  emigrants,  from  the  east  to 
the  west,  invariably  passed  along  the  valley  of  the  Mohawk, 
and  swept  away  the  means  of  subsistence,  like  a  swarm  of 
locusts.  Nor  were  the  people  on  the  Flats  in  a  much  better 
condition.  They  were  in  want  themselves,  but  they  spared 
the  little  excess  of  provisions  that  nature  did  not  absolutely 
require,  with  the  justice  of  the  German  character.  There 
was  no  grinding  of  the  poor.  The  word  speculator  was 
then  unknown  to  them.  I  have  seen  many  a  stout  man, 
bending  under  the  load  of  the  bag  of  meal,  which  he  was 
carrying  from  the  mills  of  the  Mohawk,,  through  the 
rugged  passes  of  these  mountains,  to  feed  his  half-famished 
children,  with  a  heart  so  light,  as  he  approached  his  hut, 
that  the  thirty  miles  he  had  passed  seemed  nothing.  Ke- 
member,  my  child,  it  was  in  our  very  infancy;  we  had 
neither  mills,  nor  grain,  nor  roads,  nor  often  clearings;  we 
had  nothing  of  increase,  but  the  mouths  that  were  to  be 
fed ;  for,  even  at  that  inauspicious  moment,  the  restless 
spirit  of  emigration  was  not  idle ;  nay,  the  general  scarcity 
which  extended  to  the  east,  tended  to  increase  the  number 
of  adventurers." 

"And  how,  dearest  father,  didst  thou  encounter  this 
dreadful  evil?"  said  Elizabeth,  unconsciously  adopting 
the  dialect  of  her  parent  in  the  warmth  of  her  sympathy. 
"  Upon  thee  must  have  fallen  the  responsibility,  if  not  the 
suffering." 

"  It  did,  Elizabeth,"  returned  the  Judge,  pausing  for  a 
single  moment,  as  if  musing  on  his  former  feelings.  "  I 
had  hundreds,  at  that  dreadful  time,  all  looking  up  to  me 
for  bread.  The  sufferings  of  their  families,  and  the  gloomy 
prospect  before  them,  had  paralyzed  the  enterprise  and 
efforts  of  my  settlers ;  hunger  drove  them  to  the  woods  for 
food,  but  despair  sent  them  at  night,  enfeebled  and  wan, 
to  a  sleepless  pillow.  It  was  not  a  moment  for  inaction. 
I  purchased  cargoes  of  wheat  from  the  granaries  of  Penn- 
sylvania ;  they  were  landed  at  Albany,  and  brought  up  the 
Mohawk  in  boats;  from  thence  it  was  transported  on 
pack-horses  into  the  wilderness,  and  distributed  among  my 
people.  Seines  were  made,  and  the  lakes  and  rivers  were 
dragged  for  fish.  Something  like  a  miracle  was  wrought 
in  our  favor,  for  enormous  shoals  of  herrings  were  discov- 
ered to  have  wandered  five  hundred  miles,  through  the 
windings  of  the  impetuous  Susquehanna,  and  the  lake  was 
alive  with  their  numbers.    These  were  at  length  caught, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


217 


and  dealt  out  to  the  people,  with  proper  portions  of  salt; 
and  from  that  moment  .we  again  began  to  prosper."  1 

"  Yes,"  cried  Richard,  "  and  I  was  the  man  who  served 
out  the  fish  and  the  salt.  When  the  poor  devils  came  to 
receive  their  rations,  Benjamin,  who  was  my  deputy,  was 
obliged  to  keep  them  off  by  stretching  ropes  around  me, 
for  they  smelt  so  of  garlic,  from  eating  nothing  but  the 
wild  onion,  that  the  fumes  put  me  out  often  in  my  meas- 
urement. You  were  a  child  then,  Bess,  and  knew  nothing 
of  the  matter,  for  great  care  was  observed  to  keep  both 
you  and  your  mother  from  suffering.  That  year  put  me 
back  dreadfully,  both  in  the  breed  of  my  hogs  and  of  my 
turkeys." 

"No,  Bess,"  cried  the  Judge,  in  a  more  cheerful  tone, 
disregarding  the  interruption  of  his  cousin,  "  he  who  hears 
of  the  settlement  of  a  country  knows  but  little  of  the  toil 
and  suffering  by  which  it  is  accomplished.  Unimproved 
and  wild  as  this  district  now  seems  to  your  eyes,  what  was 
it  when  I  first  entered  the  hills!  I  left  my  party,  the 
morning  of  my  arrival,  near  the  farms  of  the  Cherry 
Valley,  and,  following  a  deer-path,  rode  to  the  summit  of 
the  mountain  that  I  have  since  called  Mount  Vision ;  for 
the  sight  that  there  met  my  eyes  seemed  to  me  as  the  de- 
ceptions of  a  dream.  The  fire  had  run  oyer  the  pinnacle, 
and,  in  a  great  measure,  laid  open  the  view.  The  leaves 
were  fallen,  and  I  mounted  a  tree,  and  sat  for  an  hour 
looking  on  the  silent  wilderness.  Not  an  opening  was  to 
be  seen  in  the  boundless  forest,  except  where  the  lake  lay, 
like  a  mirror  of  glass.  The  water  was  covered  by  myriads 
of  the  wild-fowl  that  migrate  with  the  changes  in  the 
season ;  and,  while  in  my  situation  on  the  branch  of  the 
beech,  I  saw  a  bear,  with  her  cubs,  descend  to  the  shore  to 
drink.  I  had  met  many  deer,  gliding  through  the  woods, 
in  my  journey;  but  not  the  vestige  of  a  man  could  I  trace 
during  my  progress,  nor  from  my  elevated  observatory. 
No  clearing,  no  hut,  none  of  the  winding  roads.that  are 
now  to  be  seen,  were  there;  nothing  but  mountains  rising 
behind  mountains;  and  the  valley,  with  its  surface  of 
branches,  enlivened  here  and  there  with  the  faded  foliage 
of  some  tree,  that  parted  from  its  leaves  with  more  than 
ordinary  reluctance.  Even  the  Susquehanna  was  then  hid, 
by  the  height  and  density  of  the  forest." 


Ml  this  was  literally  true. 


2l8 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"And  were  you  alone  ?  "  asked  Elizabeth ;  "  passed  yon 
the  night  in  that  solitary  state  ?  " 

"Not  so,  my  child,"  returned  her  father.  "After  mus- 
ing on  the  scene  for  an  hour,  with  a  mingled  feeling  of 
pleasure  and  desolation,  I  left  my  perch  and  descended  the 
mountain.  My  horse  was  left  to  browse  on  the  twigs  that 
grew  within  his  reach,  while  I  explored  the  shores  of  the 
lake,  and  the  spot  where  Templeton  stands.  A  pine  of 
more  than  ordinary  growth  stood  where  my  dwelling  is 
now  placed!  a  wind-row  had  been  opened  through  the 
trees  from  thence  to  the  lake,  and  my  view  was  but  little 
impeded.  Under  the  branches  of  that  tree  I  made  my 
solitary  dinner;  I  had  just  finished  my  repast  as  I  saw  a 
smoke  curling  from  under  the  mountain,  near  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  lake.  It  was  the  only  indication  of  the  vicinity 
of  man  that  I  had  then  seen.  After  much* toil  I  made  my 
way  to  the  spot,  and  found  a  rough  cabin  of  logs,  built 
against  the  foot  of  a  rock,  and  bearing  the  marks  of  a 
tenant,  though  I  found  no  one  within  it 99 — 

"It  was  the  hut  of  Leather-Stocking,"  said  Edwards, 
quickly. 

"  It  was ;  though  I  at  first  supposed  it  to  be  a  habitation 
of  the  Indians.  But  while  I  was  lingering  around  the 
spot,  Natty  made  his  appearance,  staggering  under  the 
carcass  of  a  buck  that  he  had  slain.  Our  acquaintance 
commenced  at  that  time;  before,  I  had  never  heard  that, 
such  a  being  tenanted  the  woods.  He  launched  his  bark 
canoe,  and  set  me  across  the  foot  of  the  lake,  to  the  place 
where  I  had  fastened  my  horse,  and  pointed  out  a  spot 
where  he  might  get  a  scanty  browsing  until  the  morning; 
when  I  returned  and  passed  the  night  in  the  cabin  of  the 
hunter." 

Miss  Temple  was  so  much  struck  by  the  deep  attention 
of  young  Edwards,  during  this  speech,  that  she  forgot  to 
resume  her  interrogatories;  but  the  youth  himself  con- 
tinued the  discourse,  by  asking, — 

"And  how  did  the  Leather-Stocking  discharge  the  duties 
of  a  host,  sir  ?  " 

"Why,  simply  but  kindly,  until  late  in  the  evening, 
when  he  discovered  my  name  and  object,  and  the  cordiality 
of  his  manner  very  sensibly  diminished,  or,  I  might  better 
say,  disappeared.  He  considered  the  introduction  of  the 
settlers  as  an  innovation  on  his  rights,  I  believe;  for  he 
expressed  much  dissatisfaction  at  the  me:  sure,  though  it 


THE  PIONEERS. 


219 


was  in  his  confused  and  ambiguous  manner.  I  hardly 
understood  his  objections  myself,  but  supposed  they  re- 
ferred chiefly  to  an  interruption  of  the  hunting." 

"  Had  you"  then  purchased  the  estate,  or  were  you  ex- 
amining it  with  an  intent  to  buy  ?  "  asked  Edwards,  a  little 
abruptly. 

"  It  had  been  mine  for  several  years.  It  was  with  a  view 
to  people  the  land  that  I  visited  the  lake.  Natty  treated 
me  hospitably,  but  coldly,  I  thought,  after  he  learned  the 
nature  of  my  journey.  I  slept  on  his  own  bearskin,  how- 
ever, and  in  the  morning  joined  my  surveyors  again." 

"  Said  he  nothing  of  the  Indian  rights,  sir  ?  _  The 
Leather-Stocking  is  much  given  to  impeach  the  justice  of 
the  tenure  by  which  the  whites  hold  the  country." 

"  I  remember  that  he  spoke  of  them,  but  I  did  not 
clearly  comprehend  him,  and  may  have  forgotten  what  he 
said ;  for  the  Indian  title  was  extinguished  so  far  back  as 
the  close  of  the  old  war;  and  if  it  had  not  been  at  all,  I 
hold  under  the  patents  of  the  royal  governors,  confirmed 
by  an  act  of  our  own  State  legislature,  and  no  court  in  the 
country  can  affect  my  title." 

"  Doubtless,  sir,  your  title  is  both  legal  and  equitable," 
returned  the  youth,  coldly,  reining  his  horse  back,  and 
remaining  silent  till  the  subject  was  changed. 

It  was  seldom  Mr.  Jones  suffered  any  conversation  to 
continue  for  a  great  length  of  time  without  his  participa- 
tion. It  seems  that  he  was  of  the  party  that  Judge  Temple 
had  designated  as  his  surveyors ;  and  he  embraced  the  op- 
portunity of  the  pause  that  succeeded  the  retreat  of  young 
Edwards,  to  take  up  the  discourse,  and  with  it  a  narration 
of  their  further  proceedings,  after  his  own  manner^  As  it 
wanted,  however,  the  interest  that  had  accompanied  the 
description  of  the  Judge,  we  must  decline  the  task  of  com- 
mitting his  sentences  to  paper. 

They  soon  reached  the  point  where  the  promised  view 
was  to  be  seen.  It  was  one  of  those  picturesque  and  pecu- 
liar scenes  that  belong  to  the  Otsego,  but  which  required 
the  absence  of  the  ice,  and  the  softness  of  a  summer's 
landscape,  to  be  enjoyed  in  all  its  beauty.  Marmaduke 
had  early  forewarned  his  daughter  of  the  season,  and  of 
its  effect  on  the  prospect;  and  after  casting  a  cursory 
glance  at  its  capabilities,  the  party  returned  homeward, 
perfectly  satisfied  that  its  beauties  would  repay  them  for 
the  toil  of  a  second  ride,  at  a  more  propitious  season, 


220 


THE  PIONEERS 


"  The  spring  is  the  gloomy  time  of  the  American  year/' 
said  the  Judge;  "and  it  is  more  peculiarly  the  case  in 
these  mountains.  The  winter  seems  to  retreat  to  the  fast- 
nesses of  the  hills,  as  to  the  citadel  of  its  dominion,  and  is 
only  expelled  after  a  tedious  siege,  in  which  either  party, 
at  times,  would  seem  to  be  gaining  the  victory." 

"A  very  just  and  apposite  figure,  Judge  Temple,"  ob- 
served the  Sheriff;  "and  the  garrison  under  the  command 
of  Jack  Frost  make  formidable  sorties — you  understand 
what  I  mean  by  sorties,  Monsieur;  sallies  in  English — and 
sometimes  drive  General  Spring  and  his  troops  back  again 
into  the  low  countries." 

<e  Yes,  sair,"  returned  the  Frenchman,  whpse  prominent 
eyes  were  watching  the  precarious  footsteps  of  the  beast 
he  rode,  as  it  picked  its  dangerous  way  among  the  roots  of 
trees,  holes,  log-bridges,  and  sloughs,  that  formed  the  ag- 
gregate of  the  highway.  "Je  vous  entend;  de  low  countrie 
is  freeze  up  for  half  de  year." 

The  error  of  Mr.  Le  Quoi  was  not  noticed  by  the  Sheriff; 
and  the  rest  of  the  party  were  yielding  to  the  influence  of 
the  changeful  season,  which  was  already  teaching  the  eques- 
trians that  a  continuance  of  its  mildness  was  not  to  be  ex- 
pected for  any  length  of  time.  Silence  and  thoughtfulness 
succeeded  the  gayety  and  conversation  that  had  prevailed 
during  the  commencement  of  the  ride,  as  clouds  began  to 
gather  about  the  heavens,  apparently  collecting  from  every 
quarter,  in  quick  motion,  without  the  agency"  of  a  breath 
of  air. 

While  riding  over  one  of  the  cleared  eminences  that  oc- 
curred in  their  route,  the  watchful  eye  of  Judge  Temple 
pointed  out  to  his  daughter  the  approach  of  a  tempest. 
Flurries  of  snow  already  obscured  the  mountain  that 
formed  the  northern  boundary  of  the  lake,  and  the  genial 
sensation  which  had  quickened  the  blood  through  their 
veins,  was  already  succeeded  by  the  deadening  influence  of 
an  approaching  northwester. 

All  of  the  party  were  now  busily  engaged  in  making  the 
best  of  their  way  to  the  village,  though  the  badness  of  the 
roads  frequently  compelled  them  to  check  the  impatience 
of  their  animals,  which  often  carried  them  over  places 
that  would  not  admit  of  any  gait  faster  than  a  walk. 

Richard  continued  in  advance,  followed  by  Mr.  Le  Quoi ; 
next  to  whom  rode  Elizabeth,  who  seemed  to  have  imbibed 
the  distance  which  pervaded  the  manner  of  young  Edwards 


THE  PIONEERS. 


since  the  termination  of  the  discourse  between  the  latter 
and  her  father.  Marmaduke  followed  his  daughter,  giving 
her  frequent  and  tender  warnings  as  to  the  management 
of  her  horse.  It  was,  possibly,  the  evident  dependence 
that  Louisa  Grant  placed  on  his  assistance,  which  induced 
the  youth  to  continue  by  her  side,  as  they  pursued  their 
way  through  a  dreary  and  dark  wood,  where  the  rays  of 
the  sun  could  but  rarely  penetrate,  and  where  even  the 
daylight  was  obscured  and  rendered  gloomy  by  the  deep 
forests  that  surrounded  them.  No  wind  had  yet  reached 
the  spot  where  the  equestrians  were  in  motion,  but  that 
dead  stillness  that  often  precedes  a  storm  contributed  to 
render  their  situation  more  irksome  than  if  they  were 
already  subject  to  the  fury  of  the  tempest.  Suddenly  the 
voice  of  young  Edwards  was  heard  shouting  in  those  ap- 
palling tones  that  carry  alarm  to  the  very  soul,  and  which 
curdle  the  blood  of  those  that  hear  them, — 

"A  tree !  a  tree !  whip — spur  for  your  lives !  a  tree !  a 
tree!" 

"A  tree !  a  tree ! "  echoed  Eichard,  giving  his  horse  a 
blow  that  caused  the  alarmed  beast  to  jump  nearly  a  rod, 
throwing  the  mud  and  water  into  the  air  like  a  hurricane. 

"  Von  tree !  von  tree ! "  shouted  the  Frenchman,  bend- 
ing his  body  on  the  neck  of  his  charger,  shutting  his  eyes, 
and  playing  on  the  ribs  of  his  beast  with  his  heels  at  a 
rate  that  caused  him  to  be  conveyed  on  the  crupper  of  the 
Sheriff  with  a  marvelous  speed. 

Elizabeth  checked  her  filly,  and  looked,  up  with  an  un- 
conscious but  alarmed  air,  at  the  very  cause  of  their  dan- 
ger, while  she  listened  to  the  crackling  sounds  that  awoke 
the  stillness  of  the  forest;  but  the  next  instant  her  bridle 
was  seized  by  her  father,  who  cried, — 

"  God  protect  my  child ! "  and  she  felt  herself  hurried 
onward,  impelled  by  the  vigor  of  his  nervous  arm. 

Each  one  of  the  party  bowed  to  his  saddle-bows,  as  the 
tearing  of  branches  was  succeeded  by  a  sound  like  the 
rushing  of  the  winds,  which  was  followed  by  a  thundering 
report,  and  a  shock  that  caused  the  very  earth  to  tremble, 
as  one  of  the  noblest  ruins  of  the  forest  fell  directly  across 
their  path. 

One  glance  was  enough  to  assure  J udge  Temple  that  his 
daughter,  and  those  in  front  of  him,  were  safe,  and  he 
turned  his  eyes,  in  dreadful  anxiety,  to  learn  the  fate  of 
the  others.    Young  Edwards  was  on  the  opposite  side  of 


121 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  tree,  his  form  thrown  back  in  his  saddle  to  its  utmost 
distance,  his  left  hand  drawing  up  his  bridle  with  its 
greatest  force,  while  the  right  grasped  that  of  Miss  Grant, 
so  as  to  draw  the  head  of  her  horse  under  its  body.  Both 
the  animals  stood  shaking  in  every  joint  with  terror,  and 
snorting  fearfully.  Louisa  herself  had  relinquished  her 
reins,  and  with  her  hands  pressed  on  her  face,  sat  bending 
forward  in  her  saddle,  in  an  attitude  of  despair,  mingled 
strangely  with  resignation. 

"Are  you  safe  ? "  cried  the  Judge,  first  breaking  the 
awful  silence  of  the  moment. 

"By  God's  blessing,"  returned  the  youth:  "but  if  there 
had  been  branches  to  the  tree  we  must  have  been  lost " — 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  figure  of  Louisa  slowly  yield- 
ing in  her  saddle;  and  but  for  his  arm  she  would  have 
sunk  to  the  earth.  Terror,  however,  was  the  only  injury 
that  the  clergyman's  daughter  had  sustained,  and  with  the 
aid  of  Elizabeth,  she  was  soon  restored  to  her  senses. 
After  some  little  time  was  lost  in  recovering  her  strength, 
the  young  lady  was  replaced  in  her  saddle,  and  supported 
on  either  side  by  Judge  Temple  and  Mr.  Edwards,  she  was 
enabled  to  follow  the  party  in  their  slow  progress. 

"  The  sudden  fallings  of  the  trees,"  said  Marmaduke, 
"are  the  most  dangerous  accidents  in  the  forest,  for  they 
are  not  to  be  foreseen,  being  impelled  by  no  winds,  nor 
any  extraneous  or  visible  cause  against  which  we  can 
guard." 

"  The  reason  of  their  falling,  Judge  Temple,  is  very  ob- 
vious," said  the  Sheriff.  "  The  tree  is  old  and  decayed,  and 
it  is  gradually  weakened  by  the  frosts,  until  a  line  drawn 
from  the  centre  of  gravity  falls  without  its  base,  and  then 
the  tree  comes  of  a  certainty;  and  I  should  like  to  know 
what  greater  compulsion  there  can  be  for  anything  than  a 
mathematical  certainty.     I  studied  mathe — 99 

"Very  true,  Eichard,"  interrupted  Marmaduke;  "thy 
reasoning  is  true,  and  if  my  memory  be  not  over  treacher- 
ous, was  furnished  by  myself  on  a  former  occasion.  But 
how  is  one  to  guard  against  the  danger  ?  canst  thou  go 
through  the  forests,  measuring  the  bases,  and  calculating 
the  centres  of  the  oaks  ?  answer  me  that,  friend  Jones,  and 
I  will  say  thou  wilt  do  the  country  a  service." 

"Answer  thee  that,  friend  Temple!"  returned  Eichard; 
<fa  well-educated  man  can  answer  thee  anything,  sir.  Do 
any  trees  fall  in  this  manner  but  such  as  are  decayed  ? 


THE  PIONEERS. 


223 


Take  care  not  to  approach  the  roots  of  a  rotten  tree,  and 
you  will  be  safe  enough." 

"That  would  be  excluding  us  entirely  from  the  forests/' 
said  Marmaduke.  "  But,  happily,  the  winds  usually  force 
down  most  of  these  dangerous  ruins,  as  their  currents  are 
admitted  into  the  woods  by  the  surrounding  clearings,  and 
such  a  fall  as  this  has  been  is  very  rare." 

Louisa,  by  this  time,  had  recovered  so  much  strength  as 
to  allow  the  party  to  proceed  at  a  quicker  pace,  but  long 
before  they  were  safely  housed,  they  were  overtaken  by 
the  storm;  and  when  they  dismounted  at  the  door  of  the 
Mansion-house,  the  black  plumes  of  Miss  Temple's  hat 
were  drooping  with  the  weight  of  a  load  of  damp  snow, 
and  the  coats  of  the  gentlemen  were  powdered  with  the 
same  material. 

While  Edwards  was  ;  ssisting  Louisa  from  her  horse,  the. 
warm-hearted  girl  caught  his  hand  with  fervor,  and  whis- 
pered,— 

"Now,  Mr.  Edwards,  both  father  and  daughter  owe 
their  lives  to  you." 

A  driving  northwesterly  storm  succeeded,  and  before  the 
sun  was  set,  every  vestige  of  spring  had  vanished;  the 
lake,  the  mountains,  the  village,  the  fields,  being  again 
hidden  under  one  dazzling  coat  of  snow. 


CHAPTEE  XXII. 

Men,  boys,  and  girls, 
Desert  th1  unpeopled  village  ;  and  wild  crowds 
Spread  o'er  the  plain,  by  the  sweet  frenzy  driven. 

SOMERVILLE. 

_  Fkom  this  time  to  the  close  of  April  the  weather  con- 
tinued to  be  a  succession  of  great  and  rapid  changes.  One 
day,  the  soft  airs  of  spring  seemed  to  be  stealing  along  the 
valley,  and  in  unison  with  an  invigorating  sun,  attempting 
covertly  to  rouse  the  dormant  powers  of  the  vegetable 
world;  while  on  the  next,  the  surly  blasts  from  the  north 
would  sweep  across  the  lake,  and  erase  every  impression 
left  by  their  gentle  adversaries.  The  snow,  however,  finally 
disappeared,  and  the  green  wheat-fields  were  seen  in  every 
direction,  spotted  with  the  dark  and  charred  stumps 
that  had,  the  preceding  season,  supported  some  of  the 
proudest  trees  of  the  forest.    Ploughs  wers  in  motion, 


224 


THE  PIONEERS. 


wherever  those  useful  implements  could  be  used,  and  the 
smokes  of  the  sugar-camps  were  no  longer  seen  issuing 
from  the  woods  of  maple.  The  lake  had  lost  the  beauty 
of  a  field  of  ice,  but  still  a  dark  and  gloomy  covering  con- 
cealed its  waters,  for  the  absence  of  currents  left  them  yet 
hidden  under  a  porous  crust,  which,  saturated  with  the 
fluid,  barely  retained  enough  strength  to  preserve  the  con- 
tiguity of  its  parts.  Large  flocks  of  wild  geese  were  seen 
passing  over  the  country,  which  hovered,  for  a  time,  around 
the  hidden  sheet  of  water,  apparently  searching  for  a  rest- 
ing-place; and  then,  on  finding  themselves  excluded  by 
the  chill  covering,  would  soar  away  to  the  north,  filling 
the  air  with  discordant  screams,  as  if  venting  their  com- 
plaints at  the  tardy  operations  of  nature. 

For  a  week,  the  dark  covering  of  the  Otsego  was  left  to 
the  undisturbed  possession  of  two  eagles,  who  alighted  on 
the  centre  of  its  field,  and  sat  eying  their  undisputed  ter- 
ritory.   During  the  presence  of  these  monarchs  of  the  air, 
the  flocks  of  migrating  birds  avoided  crossing  the  plain  of 
ice,  by  turning  into  the  hills,  apparently  seeking  the  pro- 
tection of  the  forests,  while  the  white  and  bald  heads  of 
the  tenants' of  the  lake  were  turned  upwards,  with  a  look 
of  contempt.    But  the  time  had  come,  when  even  these 
kings  of  birds  were  to  be  dispossessed.    An  opening  had 
been  gradually  increasing  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the 
lake,  and  around  the  dark  spot  where  the  current  of  the 
river  prevented  the  formation  of  ice,  during  even  the 
coldest  weather;  and  the  fresh  southerly  winds,  that  now 
breathed  freely  upon  the  valley,  made  an  impression  on 
the  waters.    Mimic  waves  began  to  curl  over  the  margin 
of  the  frozen  field,  which  exhibited  an  outline  of  crystal- 
lizations that  slowly  receded  towards  the  north.    At  each 
step  the  power  of  the  winds  and  the  waves  increased,  until, 
after  a  struggle  of  a  few  hours,  the  turbulent  little  billows 
succeeded  in  setting  the  whole  field  in  motion,  when  it  was 
driven  beyond  the  reach  of  the  eye,  with  a  rapidity  that 
was  as  magical  as  the  change  produced  in  the  scene  by  this 
expulsion  of  the  lingering  remnant  of  winter.    Just  as  the 
last  sheet  of  agitated  ice  was  disappearing  in  the  distance, 
the  eagles  rose,  and  soared  with  a  wide  sweep  above  the 
clouds,  while  the  waves  tossed  their  little  caps  of  snow  into 
the  air,  as  if  rioting  in  their  release  from  a  thraldom  of 
five  months'  duration. 

The  following  morning  Elizabeth  was  awakened  by  the 


THE  PIONEERS.  22$ 

exhilarating  sounds  of  the  martins,  who  were  quarreling 
and  chattering  around  the  little  boxes  suspended  above 
her  windows,  and  the  cries  of  Richard,  who  was  calling  in 
tones  animating  as  the  signs  of  the  season  itself  — 

"Awake!  awake!  my  fair  lady!  the  gulls  are  hovering 
oyer  the  lake  already,  and  the  heavens  are  alive  with 
pigeons.  You  may  look  an  hour  before  you  can  find  a 
hole  through  which  to  get  a  peep  at  the  sun.  Awake  T 
awake!  lazy  ones!  Benjamin  is  overhauling  the  ammuni- 
tion, and  we  only  wait  for  our  breakfasts,  and  away  for  the 
mountains  and  pigeon  shooting/' 

There  was  no  resisting  this  animated  appeal,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  Miss  Temple  and  her  friend  descended  to  the 

i  ?°°rS  °f  the  hal1  were  thrown  0Pen,  and  the 
mild,  balmy  air  of  a  clear  spring  morning  was  ventilating 
the  apartment,  where  the  vigilance  of  the  ex-steward  had 
been  so  long  maintaining  an  artificial  heat  with  such  un- 
remitted diligence.  The  gentlemen  were  impatiently  wait- 
ing lor  their  morning's  repast,  each  equipped  in  the  garb 
ol  a  sportsman.  Mr.  J  ones  made  many  visits  to  the  south- 
ern door,  and  would  cry, — 

"See  cousin  Bess!  see,  'Duke,  the  pigeon-roosts  of  the 
south  have  broken  up!  They  are  growing  more  thick 
every  instant.  Here  is  a  flock  that  the  eye  cannot  see  the 
end  of.  There  is  food  enough  in  it  to  keep  the  army  of 
Aerxes  for  a  month,  and  feathers  enough  to  make  beds  for 
the  whole  country.  Xerxes,  Mr.  Edwards,  was  a  Grecian 
king,  who— no,  he  was  a  Turk,  or  a  Persian,  who  wanted 
to  conquer  Greece,  just  the  same  as  these  rascals  will  over- 
run our  wheat-fields,  when  they  come  back  in  the  fall 
Away!  away!  Bess;  I  long  to  pepper  them" 

In  this  wish  both  Marmaduke  and  young  Edwards 
seemed  equally  to  participate,  for  the  sight  was  exhilara- 
ting to  a  sportsman;  and  the  ladies  soon  dismissed  the 
party  after  a  hasty  breakfast. 

If  the  heavens  were  alive  with  pigeons,  the  whole  village 
seemed  equally  m  motion,  with  men,  women,  and  children 
Jiyery  species  of  fire-arms,  from  the  French  ducking-gun 
with  a  barrel  near  six  feet  in  length,  to  the  common  horse- 
man s  pistol,  was  to  be  seen  in  the  hands  of  the  men  and 
boys;  wni]e  bows  and  arrows,  some  made  of  the  simple 
stick  of  a  walnut  sapling,  and  others  in  a  rude  imitation 
1  tt       an°        cross-bows,  were  carried  by  many  of  the 


226  THE  PIONEERS. 

The  houses  and  the  signs  of  life  apparent  in  the  village, 
drove  the  alarmed  birds  from  the  direct  line  of  their 
flight,  toward  the  mountains,  along  the  sides  and  near  the 
bases  of  which  they  were  glancing  in  dense  masses  equally 
wonderful  by  the  rapidity  of  their  motion,  and  their  in- 
credible numbers.  ,„     .  ,  , 

We  have  already  said,  that  across  the  inclined  plane 
which  fell  from  the  steep  ascent  of  the  mountain  to  the 
banks  of  the  Susquehanna,  ran  the  highway,  on  either  side 
of  which  a  clearing  of  many  acres  had  been  made  at  a  very 
early  day.  Over  those  clearings,  and  up  the  eastern  moun- 
tain, and  along  the  dangerous  path  that  was  cut  into  its 
side,  the  different  individuals  posted  themselves,  and  m  a 
few  moments  the  attack  commenced. 

Among  the  sportsmen  was  the  tall,  gaunt  torm  ol 
Leather-Stocking  walking  over  the  field,  with  his  rifle 
hanging  on  his  arm,  his  dogs  at  his  heels;  the  latter  now 
scenting  the  dead  or  wounded  birds,  that  were  beginning 
to  tumble  from  the  flocks,  and  then  crouching  under  the 
legs  of  their  master,  as  if  they  participated  m  his  feelings 
at  this  wasteful  and  unsportsmanlike  execution 

The  reports  of  the  fire-arms  became  rapid,  whole  volleys 
rising  from  the  plain,  as  flocks  of  more  than  ordinal  y 
numbers  darted  over  the  opening,  shadowing  the  field  like 
a  cloud;  and  then  the  light  smoke  of  a  single  piece  would 
issue  from  among  the  leafless  bushes  on  the  mountain,  as 
death  was  hurled  on  the  retreat  of  the  affrighted  birds, 
who  were  rising  from  a  volley,  in  a  vain  effort  to  escape 
Arrows,  and  missiles  of  every  kind  were  m  the  midst  01 
the  flocks;  and  so  numerous  were  the  birds,  and  so  Low 
did  thev  take  their  flight,  that  even  long  poles,  m  the 
hands  of  those  on  the  sides  of,  the  mountain,  were  used  to 
strike  them  to  the  earth.  . 

During  all  this  time,  Mr.  Jones,  who  disdained  the 
humble  and  ordinary  means  of  destruction  used  by  his 
companions,  was  busily  occupied,  aided  by  Benjamin,  m 
making  arrangements  for  an  assault  of  more  than  ordi- 
narily fatal  character.  Among  the  relies  of  the  old  mili- 
tary excursions,  that  occasionally  are  discovered  through- 
out the  different  districts  of  the  western  part  of  New 
York,  there  had  been  found  in  Templeton,  at  its  settle- 
ment, a  small  swivel,  which  would  carry  a  hall  of  a  pound 
weight.  It  was  thought  to  have  been  deserted  by  a  war 
party  of  the  whites,  in  one  of  their  inroads  into  the  In- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


227 


dian  settlements,  when,  perhaps,  convenience  or  their 
necessity  induced  them  to  leave  such  an  incumbrance 
behind  them  in  the  woods.    This  miniature  cannon  had 
been  released  from  the  rust,  and  being  mounted  on  little 
wheels,  was  now  in  a  state  for  actual  service.    For  several 
years,  it  was  the  sole  organ  for  extraordinary  rejoicings 
used  in  those  mountains.   On  the  mornings  of  the  Fourths 
of  July,  it  would  be  heard  ringing  among  the  hills;  and 
even  Captain  Hollister,  who  was  the  highest  authority  in 
that  part  of  the  country  on  all  such  occasions,  affirmed 
that,  considering  its  dimensions,  it  was  no  despicable  gun 
for  a  salute.    It  was  somewhat  the  worse  for  the  service  it 
had  performed,  it  is  true,  there  being  but  a  trifling  differ- 
ence in  size  between  the  touch-hole  and  the  muzzle.  Still, 
the  grand  conceptions  of  Richard  had  suggested  the  im- 
portance of  such  an  instrument  in  hurling  death  at  his 
nimble  enemies.    The  swivel  was  dragged  by  a  horse  into 
a  part  of  the  open  space  that  the  Sheriff  thought  most 
eligible  for  planting  a  battery  of  the  kind,  and  Mr.  Pump 
proceeded  to  load  it.    Several  handfuls  of  duck-shot  were 
placed  on  top  of  the  powder,  and  the  major-domo  an- 
nounced that  his  piece  was  ready  for  service. 

The  sight  of  such  an  implement  collected  all  the  idle 
spectators  to  the  spot,  who,  being  mostly  boys,  filled  the 
air  with  cries  of  exultation  and  delight.  The  gun  was 
pointed  high,  and  Richard,  holding  a  coal  of  fire  in  a  pair 
of  tongs,  patiently  took  his  seat  on  a  stump,  awaiting  the 
appearance  of  a  flock  worthy  of  his  notice. 

So  prodigious  was  the  number  of  the  birds,  that  the 
scattering  fire  of  the  guns,  with  the  hurling  of  missiles,  and 
the  cries  of  the  boys,  had  no  other  effect  than  to  break  off 
small  flocks  from  the  immense  masses  that  continued  to 
dart  along  the  valley,  as  if  the  whole  of  the  feathered  tribe 
were  pouring  through  that  one  pass.  None  pretended  to 
collect  the  game,  which  lay  scattered  over  the  fields  in 
such  profusion  as  to  cover  the  very  ground  with  the  flut- 
tering victims. 

Leather-Stocking  was  a  silent,  but  uneasy  spectator  of 
all  these  proceedings,  but  was  able  to  keep  his  sentiments 
to  himself  until  he  saw  the  introduction  of  the  swivel  into 
the  sports. 

"This  comes  of  settling  a  country \"  he  said;  "here 
have  I  known  the  pigeons  to  fly  for  forty  long  years,  and, 
till  you  made  your  clearings,  there  was  nobody  to  skear  or 


22g  THE  PIONEERS. 

to  hurt  them.  I  loved  to  see  them  in  the  woods,  for  they 
were  company  to  a  body;  hurting  nothing;  being, ,  as lit 
was,  as  harmless  as  a  garter-snake  But  now  it  gmm 
sore  thoughts  when  I  hear  the  fnghty  things  whizzing 
through  the  air,  for  I  know  it's  only  a  motion  to  bring  out 
alHhe  brats  in  the  village.  Well!  the  Lord  won't  see  the 
waste  of  his  creatures  fir  nothing,  and  right  wi  be  doue 
to  the  pigeons,  as  well  as  others,  by  and  by.  There  s  Mr. 
-  Oliver,  asgbad  as  the  rest  of  them,  firing  into  the  flocks,  as 
if  he  was  shooting  down  nothing  but  Mingo  warriors 

Among  the  sportsmen  was  Billy  Kirby,  who  armed  with 
an  old  musket,  was  loading,  and  without  even  looking  into 
the  air,  was  firing  and  shouting  as  ImTl^f^OTto^ 
his  own  person.    He  heard  the  speech  of  Natty,  and  took 

^KSUtoeKBg"  he  cried,  "grumbling 
at  the  loss  of  a  few  pigeons!  If  you  had  to  sow  your 
wheat  twice,  and  three  times,  as  I  have  done,  you  wo  dii  t 
be  so  massyfully  feeling  towards  the  divils.  Hurrah, 
boys?  scatter  the  feathers!  This  is  better  than  shooting 
at  a  turkey's  head  and  neck,  old  fellow. 

"It's  better  for  you,  maybe,  Billy  Kirby,"  replied  the 
indignant  old  hunter,  "and  all  them  that  don't  know  how 
to  put  a  ball  down  a  rifle  barrel,  or  how  to  bring  ,t  up 
again  with  a  true  aim;  but  it's  wicked  to  be  shoo  ing  into 
flocks  in  this  wasty  manner;  and  none  do  it,  who  know 
how  to  knock  over  a  single  bird  If  a  body  has  a  craving 
for  pigeon's  flesh,  why,  it's  made  the  same  as  all  other 
creates,  for  man's  eating;  but  not  to  kill  twenty  and  eat 
one.  When  I  want  such  a  thing  I  go  into  the  woods  till 
I  find  one  to  my  liking,  and  then  I  shoot  him  off  the 
tranches,  withouAouchfng  the  feather  of  another  though 
there  might  be  a  hundred  on  the  same  tree  }°u  couldn  t 
do  such  a  thing,  Billy  Kirby-you  couldn't  do  it,  if  you 


tried. 


What's  that,  old  corn-stalk!  you  sapless  stub!  cried 
the  wood-chopper.    "You  have  grown  wordy,  since  the 
affair  of  the  turkey;  but  if  you  are  for  a  single  shot,  here 
goes  at  that  bird  which  comes  on  by  himself . 
°  The  fire  from  the  distant  part  of  the  field  had  uyve"'1 
.single  pigeon  below  the  flock  to  which  it  belonged,  and 
Wlitenlt  with  the  constant  reports  of  the  muskets  it 
was  approaching  the  spot  where  the  disputants  stood 
darting  first  to  one  side  and  then  to  the  other,  cutting  the 


THE  PIONEERS. 


229 


air  with  the  swiftness  of  lightning,  and  making  a  noise 
with  its  wings,  not  unlike  the  rushing  of  a  bullet.  Unfor- 
tunately for  the  wood-chopper,  notwithstanding  his  vaunt, 
he  did  not  see  this  bird  until  it  was  too  late  to  fire  as  it 
approached,  and  he  pulled  his  trigger  at  the  unlucky 
moment  when  it  was  darting  immediately  over  his  head. 
The  bird  continued  its  course  with  the  usual  velocity. 

Natty  lowered  the  rifle  from  his  arm  when  the  challenge 
was  made,  and  waiting  a  moment,  until  the  terrified  victim 
had  got  in  a  line  with  his  eye,  and  had  dropped  near  the 
bank  of  the  lake,  he  raised  it  again  with  uncommon  rapid- 
ity, and  fired.  It  might  have  been  chance,  or  it  might 
have  been  skill,  that  produced  the  result;  it  was  probably 
a  union  of  both;  but  the  pigeon  whirled  over  in  the  air, 
and  fell  into  the  lake,  with  a  broken  wing.  At  the  sound 
of  his  rifle,  both  his  dogs  started  from  his  feet,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  the  "slut"  brought  out  the  bird,  still  alive. 

The  wonderful  exploit  of  Leather-Stocking  was  noised 
through  the  field  with  great  rapidity,  and  the  sportsmen 
gathered  in,  to  learn  the  truth  of  the  report. 

"  What  ! "  said  young  Edwards,  "  have  you  really  killed 
a  pigeon  on  the  wing,  Natty,  with  a  single  ball  ?  " 

"Haven't  I  killed  loons  before  now,  lad,  that  dive  at  the 
flash?"  returned  the  hunter.  "It's  much  better  to  kill 
only  such  as  you  want,  without  wasting  your  powder  and 
lead,  than  to  be  firing  into  God's  creatures  in  this  wicked 
manner.  But  I  came  out  for  a  bird,  and  you  know  the 
reason  why  I  like  small  game,  Mr.  Oliver,  and  now  I  have 
got  one  I  will  go  home,  for  I  don't  relish  to  see  these  wasty 
ways  that  you  are  all  practysing,  as  if  the  least  thing 
wasn't  made  for  use,  and  not  to  destroy." 

"Thou  sayest  well,  Leather-Stocking,"  cried  Marma- 
duke,  "and. I  begin  to  think  it  time  to  put  an  end  to  this 
work  of  destruction." 

"Put  an  ind,  Judge,  to  your  clearings.  Ain't  the  woods 
his  work  as  well  as  the  pigeons  ?  Use,  but  don't  waste. 
Wasn't  the  woods  made  for  the  beasts  and  birds  to  harbor 
in  ?  and  when  man  wanted  their  flesh,  their  skins,  or  their 
feathers,  there's  the  place  to  seek  them.  But  I'll  go  to  the 
hut  with  my  own  game,  for  I  would'nt  touch  one  of  the 
harmless  things  that  cover  the  ground  here,  looking  up 
with  their  eyes  on  me,  as  if  they  only  wanted  tongues  to 
say  their  thoughts." 

With  this  sentiment  in  his  mouth,  Leather-Stocking 


23o  THE  PIONEERS. 

threw  his  rifle  over  his  arm,  and  followed  by  his  dogs 
stepped  across  the  clearing  with  great  caution,  taking  care 
not  to  tread  on  one  of  the  wounded  birds  in  his  path.  He 
soon  entered  the  bushes  on  the  margin  of  the  lake,  and 
was  hid  from  view. 

Whatever  impression  the  morality  of  Natty  made  on 
the  Judge,  it  was  utterly  lost  on  Richard.  He  availed 
himself  of  the  gathering  of  the  sportsmen,  to  lay  a  plan 
for  one  *  fell  swoop  "  of  destruction.  The  musket  men 
were  drawn  up  in  battle  array,  in  a  line  extending  on  each 
si3e  of  his  artillery,  with  orders  to  await  the  signal  of  firing 
from  himself. 

"  Stand  by,  my  lads/'  said  Benjamin,  who  acted  as  an 
aide-de-camp  on  this  occasion,  "  stand  by,  my  hearties, 
and  when  Squire  Dickens  heaves  out  the  signal  to  begin 
firing,  d'ye  see,  you  may  open  upon  them  in  a  broadside. 
Take  care  and  fire  low,  boys,  and  you'll  be  sure  to  hull  the 

nock."  ,  -j-j, 

"Fire  low!  *  shouted  Kirby :  "hear  the  old  fool!  If  we 
fire  low,  we  may  hit  the  stumps,  but  not  ruffle  a  pigeon." 

"  How  should  you  know,  you  lubber  ? 99  cried  Benjamin, 
with  a  very  unbecoming  heat  for  an  officer  on  the  eve  of 
battle;  "how  should  you  know,  you  grampus  ?  Haven't  I 
sailed  aboard  of  the  Boadishey  for  five  years  ?  and  wasn't 
it  a  standing  order  to  fire  low,  and  to  hull  your  enemy? 
Keep  silence  at  your  guns,  boys,  and  mind  the  order  that 
is  passed." 

The  loud  laughs  of  the  musket-men  were  silenced  by 
the  more  authoritative  voice  of  Richard,  who  called  for 
attention  and  obedience  to  his  signals. 

Some  millions  of  pigeons  were  supposed  to  have  already 
passed,  that  morning,  over  the  valley  of  Templeton ;  but 
nothing  like  the  flock  that  was  now  approaching  had  been 
seen  before.  It  extended  from  mountain  to  mountain  in 
one  solid  blue  mass,  and  the  eye  looked  in  vain,  over  the 
southern  hills,  to  find  its  termination.  The  front  of  this 
living  column  was  distinctly  marked  by  a  line  but  very 
slightly  indented,  so  regular  and  even  was  the  flight.  Even 
Marmaduke  forgot  the  morality  of  Leather-Stocking  as  it 
approached,  and,  in  common  with  the  rest,  brought  his 
musket  to  a  poise.  .  . 

"  Fire ! 99  cried  the  Sheriff,  clapping  a  coal  to  the  priming 
of  the  cannon.  As  half  of  Benjamin's  charge  escaped 
through  the  touch-hole,  the  whole  volley  of  the  musketry 


THE  PIONEERS. 


231 


preceded  the  report  of  the  swivel.  On  receiving  this 
united  discharge  of  small-arms,  the  front  of  the  flock 
darted  upwards,  while,  at  the  same  instant,  myriads  of 
those  in  the  rear  rushed  with  amazing  rapidity  into  their 
places,  so  that  when  the  column  of  white  smoke  gushed 
from  the  mouth  of  the  little  cannon,  an  accumulated  mass 
of  objects  was  gliding  over  its  point  of  direction.  The 
roar  of  the  gun  echoed  along  the  mountains,  and  died  away 
to  the  north,  like  distant  thunder,  while  the  whole  flock 
of  alarmed  birds  seemed,  for  a  moment,  thrown  into  one 
disorderly  and  agitated  mass.  The  air  was  filled  with  their 
irregular  flight,  layer  rising  above  layer,  far  above  the  tops 
of  the  highest  pines,  none  daring  to  advance  beyond  the 
dangerous  pass;  when,  suddenly,  some  of  the  leaders  of 
the  feathered  tribe  shot  across  the  valley,  taking  their 
flight  directly  over  the  village,  and  hundreds  of  thousands 
in  their  rear  followed  the  example,  deserting  the  eastern 
side  of  the  plain  to  their  persecutors  and  the  slain. 

"  Victory !  "  shouted  Eichard,  "  victory !  we  have  driven 
the  enemy  from  the  field." 

"Not  so,  Dickon,"  said  Marmaduke:  "the  field  is  cov- 
ered with  them;  and,  like  the  Leather-Stacking,  I  see 
nothing  but  eyes,  in  every  direction,  as  the  innocent  suf- 
ferers turn  their  heads  in  terror.  Full  one  half  of  those 
that  have  fallen  are  yet  alive;  and  I  think  it  is  time  to 
end  the  sport,  if  sport  it  be." 

"  Sport !  "  cried  the  Sheriff ;  "  it  is  princely  sport !  There 
are  some  thousands  of  the  blue-coated  boys  on  the  ground, 
so  that  every  old  woman  in  the  village  may  have  a  pot-pie 
for  the  asking." 

<  "  Well,  we  have  happily  frightened  the  birds  from  this 
side  of  the  valley,"  said  Marmaduke;  "and  the  carnage 
must  of  necessity  end,  for  the  present.  Boys,  I  will  give 
you  sixpence  a  hundred  for  the  pigeons'  heads  only :  so  go 
to  work,  and  bring  them  into  the  village." 

This  expedient  produced  the  desired  effect,  for  every 
urchin  on  the  ground  went  industriously  to  work  to  wring 
the  necks  of  the  wounded  birds.  Judge  Temple  retired 
towards  his  dwelling  with  that  kind  of  feeling  that  many 
a  man  has  experienced  before  him  who  discovers,  after  the 
excitement  of  the  moment  has  passed,  that  he  has  pur- 
chased pleasure  at  the  price  of  misery  to  others.  Horses 
were  loaded  with  the  dead;  and,  after  this  first  burst  of 
sporting,  the  shooting  of  pigeons  became  a  business,  with 


232 


THE  PIONEERS. 


a  few  idlers,  for  the  remainder  of  the  season.  Richard, 
however,  boasted  for  many  a  year,  of  his  shot  with  the 
"cricket;"  and  Benjamin  gravely  asserted,  that  he 
thought  they  killed  nearly  as  many  pigeons  on  that  day, 
as  there  were  Frenchmen  destroyed  on  the  memorable  oc- 
casion of  Rodney's  victory 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Help  masters,  help  •  here's  a  fish  hangs  iu  the  net,  like  a  poor  man's  right  in 
the  law.  Pericles  of  Tyre. 

The  advance  of  the  season  now  became  as  rapid  as  its 
first  approach  had  been  tedious  and  lingering.  The  days 
were  uniformly  mild,  while  the  nights,  though  cool,  were 
no  longer  chilled  by  frosts.  The  whip  poor-will  was  heard 
whistling  his  melancholy  notes  along  the  margin  of  the 
lake,  and  the  ponds  and  meadows  were  sending  forth  the 
music  of  their  thousand  tenants.  The  leaf  of  the  native 
poplar  was  seen  quivering  in  the  woods;  the  sides  of  the 
mountains  began  to  lose  their  hue  of  brown,  as  the  lively 
green  of  the  different  members  of  the  forest  blended  their 
shades  with  the  permanent  colors  of  the  pine  and  hemlock ; 
and  even  the  buds  of  the  tardy  oak  were  swelling  with  the 
promise  of  the  coming  summer.  The  gay  and  fluttering 
blue-bird,  the  social  robin,  and  the  industrious  little  wren, 
were  all  to  be  seen  enlivening  the  fields  with  their  presence 
and  their  songs;  while  the  soaring  fish-hawk  was  already 
hovering  over  the  waters  of  the  Otsego,  watching,  with 
native  voracity,  for  the  appearance  of  his  prey. 

The  tenants  of  the  lake  were  far-famed  for  both  their 
quantities  and  their  quality,  and  the  ice  had  hardly  disap- 
peared, before  numberless  little  boats  were  launched  from 
the  shores,  and  the  lines  of  the  fishermen  were  dropped 
into  the  inmost  recesses  of  its  deepest  caverns,  tempting 
the  unwary  animals  with  every  variety  of  bait  that  the  in- 
genuity or  the  art  of  man  had  invented.  But  the  slow, 
though  certain  adventures  with  hook  and  line  were  ill 
suited  to  the  profusion  and  impatience  of  the  settlers. 
More  destructive  means  were  resorted  to ;  and,  as  the  season 
had  now  arrived  when  the  bass-fisheries  were  allowed  by 
the  provisions  of  the  law  that  Judge  Temple  had  procured, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


233 


the  Sheriff  declared  his  intention,  by  availing  himself  of 
the  first  dark  night,  to  enjoy  the  sport  in  person. 

"  And  you  shall  be  present,  cousin  Bess,"  he  added,  when 
he  announced  this  design,  "  and  Miss  Grant,  and  Mr.  Ed 
wards;  and  I  will  show  you  what  I  call  fishing— not  nibble, 
nibble,  nibble,  as  'Duke  does  when  he  goes  after  the  sal- 
mon-trout. There  he  will  sit  for  hours,  in  a  broiling  sun, 
or,  perhaps,  over  a  hole  in  the  ice,  in  the  coldest  days  in 
winter,  under  the  lee  of  a  few  bushes,  and  not  a  fish  will 
he  catch,  after  all  this  mortification  of  the  flesh.  No,  no ; 
give  me  a  good  seine  that's  fifty  or  sixty  fathoms  in  length, 
with  a  jolly  parcel  of  boatmen  to  crack  their  jokes  the 
while,  with  Benjamin  to  steer,  and  let  us  haul  them  in  by 
thousands;  I  call  that  fishing." 

"Ah!  Dickon,"  cried  Marmaduke,  "thou  knowest  but 
little  of  the  pleasure  there  is  in  playing  with  the  hook  and 
line,  or  thou  would st  be  more  saving  of  the  game.  I  have 
known  thee  to  leave  fragments  enough  behind  thee,  when 
thou  hast  headed  a  night -party  on  the  lake,  to  feed  a  dozen 
famishing  families." 

"I  shall  not  dispute  the  matter,  Judge  Temple:  this 
night  will  I  go ;  and  I  invite  the  company  to  attend,  and 
then  let  them  decide  between  us." 

Eichard  was  busy,  during  most  of  the  afternoon,  making 
his  preparations  for  the  important  occasion.  Just  as  the 
light  of  the  setting  sun  had  disappeared,  and  a  new  moon 
had  begun  to  throw  its  shadows  on  the  earth,  the  fishermen 
took  their  departure  in  a  boat,  for  a  point  that  was  situated 
on  the  western  shore  of  the  lake,  at  the  distance  of  rather 
more  than  half  a  mile  from  the  village.  The  ground  had 
become  settled,  and  the  walking  was  good  and  dry.  Mar- 
maduke,  with  his  daughter,  her  friend,  and  young  Edwards, 
continued  on  the  high  grassy  banks  at  the  outlet  of  the 
placid  sheet  of  water,  watching  the  dark  object  that  was 
moving  across  the  lake,  until  it  entered  the  shade  of  the 
western  hills,  and  was  lost  to  the  eye.  The  distance  round 
by  land  to  the  point  of  destination  was  a  mile,  and  he  ob- 
served— 

"It  is  time  for  us  to  be  moving:  the  moon  will  be  down 
ere  wTe  reach  the  point,  and  then  the  miraculous  hauls  of 
Dickon  will  commence." 

The  evening  was  warm,  and,  after  the  long  and  dreary 
winter  from  which  they  had  just  escaped,  delightfully  in- 
vigorating.   Inspirited  by  the  scene  and  their  anticipated 


THE  PIONEERS. 


amusement,  the  youthful  companions  of  the  Judge  followed 
his  steps,  as  he  led  them  along  the  shores  of  the  Otsego, 
and  through  the  skirts  of  the  village. 

"See!"  said  young  Edwards,  "  they  are  building  their 
lire  already;  it  glimmers  for  a  moment,  and  dies  again  like 
the  light  of  a  fire-fly." 

"  Now  it  blazes,"  cried  Elizabeth :  "  you  can  perceive  fig- 
ures moving  around  the  light.  0 !  I  would  bet  my  jewels 
against  the  gold  beads  of  Remarkable,  that  my  impatient 
cousin  Dickon  had  an  agency  in  raising  that  bright  flame; 
and  see !  it  fades  again,  like  most  of  his  brilliant  schemes." 

"Thou  hast  guessed  the  truth,  Bess,"  said  her  father; 
"  he  has  thrown  an  armful  of  brush  on  the  pile,  which  has 
burnt  out  as  soon  as  lighted.  But  it  has  enabled  them  to 
find  a  better  fuel,  for  their  fire  begins  to  blaze  with  a  more 
steady  flame.  It  is  the  true  fisherman's  beacon  now ;  ob- 
serve how  beautifully  it  throws  its  circle  of  light  on  the 
water ! " 

The  appearance  of  the  fire  urged  the  pedestrians  on,  for 
even  the  ladies  had  become  eager  to  witness  the  miracu- 
lous draught.  By  the  time  they  reached  the  bank,  which 
rose  above  the  low  point  where  the  fishermen  had  landed, 
the  moon  had  sunk  behind  the  tops  of  the  western  pines, 
and,  as  most  of  the  stars  were  obscured  by  clouds,  there  was 
but  little  other  light  than  that  which  proceeded  from  the 
fire.  At  the  suggestion  of  Marmaduke,  his  companions 
paused  to  listen  to  the  conversation  of  those  below  them, 
and  examine  the  party  for  a  moment  before  they  descended 
to  the  shore. 

The  whole  group  were  seated  around  the  fire,  with  the 
exception  of  Richard  and  Benjamin;  the  former  of  whom 
occupied  the  root  of  a  decayed  stump,  that  had  been  drawn 
to  the  spot  as  part  of  their  fuel,  and  the  latter  was  stand- 
ing, with  his  arms  akjnibo,  so  near  to  the  flame,  that  the 
smoke  occasionally  obscured  his  solemn  visage,  as  it  waved 
around  the  pile,  in  obedience  to  the  night  airs  that  swept 
gently  over  the  water. 

"Why,  look  you,  Squire,"  said  the  major-domo,  ''you 
may  call  a  lake-fish  that  will  weigh  twenty  or  thirty  pounds 
a  serious  matter;  but  to  a  man  who  has  hauled  in  a  shovel- 
nosed  shirk,  d'ye  see,  it's  but  poor  kind  of  fishing  after  all." 

"I  don't  know,  Benjamin,"  returned  the  Sheriff^ "a 
haul  of  one  thousand  Otsego  bass,  without  counting  pike, 
pickerel,  perch,  bull-pouts,  salmon-trouts,  and  suckers,  is 


THE  PIONEERS. 


235 


no  bad  fishing,  let  me  tell  you.  There  may  be  sport  in 
sticking  a  shark,  but  what  is  he  good  for  after  you  have 
got  him  ?  Now,  any  one  of  the  fish  that  I  have  named  is 
fit  to  set  before  a  king." 

"  Well,  Squire,"  returned  Benjamin,  "  just  listen  to  the 


such  fish  should  live  and  be  catched  in  this  here  little 
pond  of  water,  where  it's  hardly  deep  enough  to  drown  a 
man,  as  you'll  find  in  the  wide  ocean,  where,  as  everybody 
knows,  that  is,  everybody  that  has  followed  the  seas,  whales 
and  grampuses  are  to  be  seen,  that  are  as  long  as  one  of 
the  pine  trees  on  yonder  mountain  ?" 

"Softly,  softly,  Benjamin,"  said  the  Sheriff,  as  if  he 
wished  to  save  the  credit  of  his  favorite ;  "  why,  some  of 
the  pines  will  measure  two  hundred  feet,  and  even  more." 

"  Two  hundred  or  two  thousand,  it's  all  the  same  thing," 
cried  Benjamin,  with  an  air  which  manifested  that  he  was 
not  easily  to  be  bullied  out  of  his  opinion,  on  a  subject  like 
the  present.  "  Haven't  I  been  there,  and  haven't  I  seen  ? 
I  have  said  that  you  fall  in  with  whales  as  long  as  one  ofs^. 
them  there  pines ;  and  what  I  have  once  said  I'll  stand  to !  " 

During  this  dialogue,  which  was  evidently  but^  the  close 
of  a  much  longer  discussion,  the  huge  frame  of  Billy  Kirby 
was  seen  extended  on  one  side  of  the  fire,  where  ^  he  was 
picking  his  teeth  with  splinters  of  the  chips  near  hip,  and 
occasionally  shaking  his  head  with  distrust  of  Benjamin's 
assertions. 

"I've  a,  notion,"  said  the  wood-chopper,  " that  there's 
water  in  this  lake  to  swim  the  biggest  whale  that  ever  was 
invented ;  and,  as  to  the  pines,  I  think  I  ought  to  know 
so' thing  consarning  them;  I  have  chopped  many  a  one 
that  was  sixty  times  the  length  of  my  helve,  without  count- 
ing the  eye :  and  I  believe,  Benny,  that  if  the  old  pine  that 
stands  in  the  hollow  of  the  Vision  Mountain,  just  over  the 
village — you  may  see  the  tree  itself  by  looking  up,  for  the 
moon  is  on  its  top  yet — well,  now  I  believe,  if  that  same 
tree  was  planted  out  in  the  deepest  part  of  the  lake,  there 
would  be  water  enough  for  the  biggest  ship  that  ever  was 
built  to  float  over  it,  without  touching  its  upper  branches, 


"  Did'ee  ever  see  a  ship,  Master  Kirby  ?  "  roared  the  stew- 
ard ;  "  did'ee  ever  see  a  ship,  man  ?  or  any  craft  bigger  than 
a  lime-scow,  or  a  wood-boat,  on  this  here  small  bit  of  fresh 
water  ?  " 


Would  it  stand  to  reason,  that 


I  do.: 


236 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  Yes,  I  have,"  said  the  wood-chopper,  stoutly ;  "  I  can 
say  that  I  have,  and  tell  no  lie." 

"  Did'ee  ever  see  a  British  ship,  Master  Kirby  ?  an  Eng- 
lish line-of -battle  ship,  boy  ?  Where-away  did'ee  ever  fall 
in  with  a  regular  built  vessel,  with  starn-post  and  cut- 
water, garboard  streak  and  plank-shear,  gangways,  and 
hatchways,  and  waterways,  quarter-deck  and  forecastle, 
aye,  and  flush-deck  ? — tell  me  that,  man,  if  you  can ;  where- 
away  did'ee  ever  fall  in  with  a  full-rigged,  regular  built, 
decked  vessel  ?  " 

The  whole  company  were  a  good  deal  astounded  with 
this  overwhelming  question,  and  even  Richard  afterwards 
remarked,  that  "  It  was  a  thousand  pities  that  Benjamin 
could  not  read,  or  he  must  have  made  a  valuable  officer  to 
the  British  marine.  It  is  no  wonder  that  they  overcame 
the  French  so  easily  on  the  water,  when  even  the  lowest 
sailor  so  well  understood  the  different  parts  of  a  vessel." 
But  Billy  Kirby  was  a  fearless  wight,  and  had  great  jeal- 
ousy of  foreign  dictation;  he  had  arisen  to  his  feet,  and 
turned  his  back  to  the  fire,  during  the  voluble  delivery  of 
this  interrogatory;  and  when  the  steward  ended,  contrary 
to  all  expectation,  he  gave  the  following  spirited  reply — 

u  Where !  why  on  the  North  Eiver,  and  maybe  on  Cham- 
plain.  There's  sloops  on  the  river,  boy,  that  would  give  a 
hard  time  on't  to  the  stoutest  vessel  King  George  owns. 
They  carry  masts  of  ninety  feet  in  the  clear,  of  good  solid 
pine,  for  I've  been  at  the  chopping  of  many  a  one  in  Var- 
mount  State.  I  wish  I  was  captain  in  one  of  them,  and 
you  was  in  that  Board-dish  that  you  talk  so  much  about ; 
and  we'd  soon  see  what  good  Yankee  stuff  is  made  on,  and 
whether  a  Varmounter's  hide  ain't  as  thick  as  an  English- 
man's." 

The  echoes  from  the  opposite  hills,  which  were  more  than 
half  a  mile  from  the  fishing  point,  sent  back  the  discordant 
^  laugh  that  Benjamin  gave  forth  at  this  challenge ;  and  the 
woods  that  covered  their  sides  seemed,  by  the  noise  that 
issued  from  their  shades,  to  be  full  of  mocking  demons. 

"Let  us  descend  to  the  shore,"  whispered  Marmaduke, 
"or  there  will  soon  be  ill-blood  between  them.  Benjamin 
is  a  fearless  boaster;  and  Kirby,  though  good-natured,  is  a 
careless  son  of  the  forest,  who  thinks  one  American  more 
than  a  match  for  six  Englishmen.  I  marvel  that  Dickon 
is  silent,  where  there  is  such  a  trial  of  skill  in  the  superla- 
tive!" 


THE  PIONEERS. 


The  appearance  of  Judge  Temple  and  the  ladies  pro- 
duced, if  not  a  pacification,  at  least  a  cessation  of  hostilities. 
Obedient  to  the  directions  of  Mr.  Jones,  the  fishermen 
prepared  to  launch  their  boat,  which  had  been  seen  in  the 
background  of  the  view,  with  the  net  carefully  disposed 
on  a  little  platform  in  its  stern,  ready  for  service.  Richard 
gave  vent  to  his  reproaches  at  the  tardiness  of  the  pedes- 
trians, when  all  the  turbulent  passions  of  the  party  were 
succeeded  by  a  calm,  as  mild  and  as  placid  as  that  which 
prevailed  over  the  beautiful  sheet  of  water  that  they  were 
about  to  rifle  of  its  best  treasures. 

The  night  had  now  become  so  dark  as  to  render  objects, 
without  the  reach  of  the  light  of  the  fire,  not  only  indis- 
tinct, but  in  most  cases  invisible.  For  a  little  distance 
the  water  was  discernible,  glistening  as  the  glare  from  the 
fire  danced  over  its  surface,  touching  it  here  and  there 
with  red  quivering  streaks;  but  at  a  hundred  feet  from 
the  shore,  there  lay  a  boundary  of  impenetrable  gloom. 
One  or  two  stars  were  shining  through  the  openings  of  the 
clouds,  and  the  lights  were  seen  in  the  village,  glimmering 
faintly,  as  if  at  an  immeasurable  distance.  At  times,  as 
the  fire  lowered,  or  as  the  horizon  cleared,  the  outline  of 
the  mountain,  on  the  other  side  of  the  lake,  might  he 
traced  by  its  undulations ;  but  its  shadow  was  cast,  wide 
and  dense,  on  the  bosom  of  the  water,  rendering  the  dark- 
ness in  that  direction  trebly  deep. 

Benjamin  Pump  was  invariably  the  cockswain  and  net- 
caster  of  Richard's  boat,  unless  the  Sheriff  saw  fit  to  pre- 
side in  person;  and,  on  the  present  occasion,  Billy  Kirby, 
and  a  youth  of  about  half  his  strength,  were  assigned  to 
the  oars.  The  remainder  of  the  assistants  were  stationed 
at  the  drag  ropes.  The  arrangements  were  speedily  made, 
and  Richard  gave  the  signal  to  "  shove  off." 

Elizabeth  watched  the  motion  of  the  batteau  as  it 
pulled  from  the  shore,  letting  loose  its  rope  as  it  went, 
•  but  it  soon  disappeared  in  the  darkness,  when  the  ear  was 
her  only  guide  to  its  evolutions.  There  was  great  affecta- 
tion of  stillness  during  all  these  manoeuvres,  in  order,  as 
Richard  assured  them, "  not  to  frighten  the  bass,  who  were 
running  into  the  shoal  waters,  and  who  would  approach 
the  light  if  not  disturbed  by  the  sounds  from  the  fisher- 
men." 

The  hoarse  voice  of  Benjamin  was  alone  heard  issuing 
out  of  the  gloom,  as  he  uttered,  in  authoritative  tones, 


23* 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  Pull  larboard  oar/' "  Pull  starboard/' "  Give  way  together, 
boys/'  and  such  other  dictative  mandates  as  were  neces- 
sary for  the  right  disposition  of  his  seine.  A  long  time 
was  passed  in  this  necessary  part  of  the  process,  for  Ben- 
jamin prided  himself  greatly  on  his  skill  in  throwing  the 
net,  and,  in  fact,  most  of  the  success  of  the  sport  depended 
on  its  being  done  with  judgment.  At  length  a  loud  splash 
in  the  water,  as  he  threw  away  the  "  staff,"  or  "  stretcher," 
with  a  hoarse  call  from  the  steward,  of  "  Clear,"  announced 
that  the  boat  was  returning;  when  Eichard  seized  a  brand 
from  the  fire,  and  ran  to  a  point,  as  far  above  the  centre 
of  the  fishing  ground,  as  the  one  from  which  the  batteau 
had  started  was  below  it. 

"  Stick  her  in  dead  for  the  Squire,  boys,"  said  the  stew- 
ard, ee  and  we'll  have  a  look  at  what  grows  in  this  here 
pond." 

In  place  of  the  falling  net  were  now  to  be  heard  the 
quick  strokes  of  the  oars,  and  the  noise  of  the  rope  run- 
ning out  of  the  boat.  Presently  the  batteau  shot  into  the 
circle  of  light,  and  in  an  instant  she  was  pulled  to  shore. 
Several  eager  hands  were  extended  to  receive  the  line,  and 
both  ropes  being  equally  well  manned,  the  fishermen  com 
menced  hauling  in  with  slow  and  steady  drags,  Richard 
standing  in  the  centre,  giving  orders,  first  to  one  party, 
and  then  to  the  other,  to  increase  or  slacken  their  efforts, 
as  occasion  required.  The  visitors  were  posted  near  him, 
and  enjoyed  a  fair  view  of  the  whole  operation,  which  avus 
slowly  advancing  to  an  end. 

Opinions  as  to  the  result  of  their  adventure  were  now 
freely  hazarded  by  all  the  men,  some  declaring  that  the  net 
came  in  as  light  as  a  feather,  and  others  affirming  that  it 
seemed  to  be  full  of  logs.  As  the  ropes  were  many  hundred 
feet  in  length,  these  opposing  sentiments  were  thought  to 
be  of  little  moment  by  the  Sheriff,  who  would  go  first  to 
one  line  and  then  to  the  other,  giving  each  a  small  pull, 
in  order  to  enable  him  to  form  an  opinion  for  himself. 

"  Why,  Benjamin,"  he  cried,  as  he  made  his  first  effort  in 
this  way,  "you  did  not  throw  the  net  clear.  I  can  move  it 
with  my  little  finger.    The  rope  slackens  in  my  hand." 

"Did  you  ever  see  a  whale,  Squire ? "  responded  the 
steward.  u  I  say  that  if  that  there  net  is  foul,  the  devil  is 
in  the  lake  in  the  shape  of  a  fish,  for  I  est  it  as  fair  as 
ever  rigging  was  rove  over  the  quarter-deck  of  a  flag-ship." 
But  Pichard  discovered  his  mistake  when  he  saw  Billy 


THE  PIONEERS. 


239 


Kirby  before  him,  standing  with  his  foot  in  the  water,  at  an 
angle  of  forty-live  degrees,  inclining  shorewards  and  ex- 
pending his  gigantic  strength  in  sustaining  himself  in  that 
posture.    He  ceased  his  remonstrances,  and  proceeded  to 


"  1  see  the '  staffs '  "  shouted  Mr.  Jones ;  "  gather  in,  boys, 
and  away  with  it;  to  shore  with  her! — to  shore  with  her!" 

At  this  cheerful  sound,  Elizabeth  strained  her  eyes  and 
saw  the  ends  of  the  two  sticks  on  the  seine  emerging  from 
the  darkness,  while  the  men  closed  near  to  each  other,  and 
formed  a  deep  bag  of  their  net.  The*  exertions  of  the 
fishermen  sensibly  increased,  and  the  voice  of  Richard  was 
heard  encouraging  them  to  make  their  greatest  efforts  at 
the  present  moment. 

"  Now's  the  time,  my  lads,"  he  cried ;  "  let  us  get  the  ends 
to  land,  and  all  we  have  will  be  our  own — away  with  her ! " 

"Away  with  her,  it  is,"  echoed  Benjamin;  "hurrah! 
ho-a-hoy,  ho-a-hoy,  ho-a!" 

"  In  with  her ! "  shouted  Kirby,  exerting  himself  in  a 
manner  that  left  nothing  for  those  in  his  rear  to  do,  but 
to  gather  up  the  slack  of  the  rope  which  passed  through 
his  hands. 

"  Staff,  ho!  "  shouted  the  steward. 
"  Staff,  ho !  "  echoed  Kirby,  from  the  other  rope. 
The  men  rushed  to  the  water's  edge,  some  seizing  the 
tipper  rope,  and  some  the  lower,  or  lead-rope,  and  began 
to  haul  with  great  activity  and  zeal.  A  deep  semicircular 
sweep  of  the  little  balls  that  supported  the  seine  in  its 
perpendicular  position,  was  plainly  visible  to  the  spectators, 
and,  as  it  rapidly  lessened  in  size,  the  bag  of  the  net  ap- 
peared, while  an  occasional  flutter  on  the  water  announced 
the  uneasiness  of  the  prisoners  it  contained. 

"  Haul  in,  my  lads,"  shouted  Richard ;  "  I  can  see  the 
dogs  kicking  to  get  free.  Haul  in,  and  here's  a  cast  that 
will  pay  for  the  labor." 

Fishes  of  various  sorts  were  now  to  be  seen,  entangled 
in  the  meshes  of  the  net,  as  it  was  passed  through  the 
hands  of  the  laborers ;  and  the  water,  at  a  little  distance 
from  the  shore,  was  alive  with  the  movements  of  the 
alarmed  victims.  Hundreds  of  white  sides  were  glancing 
up  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  glistening  in  the  fire- 
light, when,  frightened  at  the  uproar  and  the  change,  the 
fish  would  again  dart  to  the  bottom,  in  fruitless  efforts  for 
freedom. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"Hurrah!"  shouted  Richard;  "one  or  two  more  heavy 
drags,  boys,  and  we  are  safe." 

"  Cheerily,  boys,  cheerily !  "  cried  Benjamin ;  "  I  see  a 
salmon-trout  that  is  big  enough  for  a  chowder." 

"Away  with  you,  you  varmint !  "  said  Billy  Kirby,  pluck- 
ing a  bull-pout  from  the  meshes,  and  casting  the  animal 
back  into  the  lake  with  contempt,  "Pull,  boys,  pull; 
here's  all  kinds,  and  the  Lord  condemn  me  for  a  liar  if 
there  ain't  a  thousand  bass !  " 

Inflamed  beyond  the  bounds  of  discretion  at  the  sight, 
and  forgetful  of  the  season,  the  wood-chopper  rushed  to 
his  middle  into  the  water,  and  began  to  drive  the  reluc- 
tant animals  before  him  from  their  native  element, 

"  Pull  heartily,  boys,"  cried  Marmaduke,  yielding  to  the 
excitement  of  the  moment,  and  laying  his  hands  to  the 
net,  with  no  trifling  addition  to  the  force.  Edwards  had 
preceded  him;  for  the  sight  of  the  immense  piles  of  fish, 
that  were  slowly  rolling  over  on  the  gravelly  beach,  had 
impelled  him  also  to  leave  the  ladies,  and  join  the  fisher- 
men. 

Great  care  was  observed  in  bringing  the  net  to  land,  and, 
after  much  toil,  the  whole  shoal  of  victims  was  safely 
deposited  in  a  hollow  of  the  bank,  where  they  were  left  to 
flutter  away  their  brief  existence  in  the  new  and  fatal  ele- 
ment. 

Even  Elizabeth  and  Louisa  were  greatly  excited  and 
highly  gratified  by  seeing  two  thousand  captives  thus 
drawn  from  the  bosom  of  the  lake,  and  laid  prisoners  at 
their  feet.  But  when  the  feelings  of  the  moment  were 
passing  away,  Marmaduke  took  in  his  hands  a  bass,  that 
might  have  weighed  two  pounds,  and  after  viewing  it  a 
moment,  in  melancholy  musing,  he  turned  to  his  daughter, 
and  observed, — 

"  This  is  a  fearful  expenditure  of  the  choicest  gifts  of 
Providence.  These  fish,  Bess,  which  thou  seest  lying  in 
such  piles  before  thee,  and  which  by  to-morrow  evening  will 
be  rejected  food  on  the  meanest  table  in  Templeton,  are  of 
a  quality  and  flavor  that,  in  other  countries,  would  make 
them  esteemed  a  luxury  on  the  tables  of  princes  or  epi- 
cures. The  world  has  no  better  fish  than  the  bass  of  Ot- 
sego; it  unites  the  richness  of  the  shad  1  to  the  firmness  of 
the  salmon." 


i  Of  all  the  fish  the  writer  has  ever  tasted,  he  thinks  the  one  in  question  the 
best. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


24  r 


"  But  surely,  dear  sir,"  cried  Elizabeth, "  they  must  prove 
a  great  blessing  to  the  country,  and  a  powerful  friend  to 
the  poor." 

"  The  poor  are  always  prodigal,  my  child,  where  there  is 
plenty,  and  seldom  think  of  a  provision  against  the  mor- 
row. Rut  if  there  can  be  any  excuse  for  destroying  ani- 
mals in  this  manner,  it  is  in  taking  the  bass.  During  the 
winter,  you  know,  they  are  entirely  protected  from  our 
assaults  by  the  ice,  for  they  refuse  the  hook;  and  during 
the  hot  months  they  are  not  seen.  It  is  supposed  they 
retreat  to  the  deep  and  cool  waters  of  the  lake,  at  that  sea- 
son; and  it  is  only  in  the  spring  and  autumn,  that,  for  a 
few  days,  they  are  to  be  found  around  the  points  where 
they  are  within  the  reach  of  a  seine.  But,  like  all  the 
other  treasures  of  the  wilderness,  they  already  begin  to 
disappear  before  the  wasteful  extravagance  of  man." 

"Disappear,  'Duke!  disappear!"  exclaimed  the  Sheriff; 
"  if  you  don't  call  this  appearing,  I  know  not  what  you 
will.  Here  are  a  good  thousand  of  the  shiners,  some  hun  - 
dreds  of  suckers,  and  a  powerful  quantity  of  other  fry. 
But  this  is  always  the  way  with  you,  Marmaduke ;  first  it's 
the  trees,  then  it's  the  deer,  after  that  it's  the  maple-sugar, 
and  so  on  to  the  end  of  the  chapter.  One  day  you  talk  of 
canals  through  a  country  where  there's  a  river  or  a  lake 
every  half  mile,  just  because  the  water  won't  run  the  way 
you  wish  it  to  go;  and  the  next,  you  say  something  about 
mines  of  coal,  though  any  man  who  has  good  eyes  like 
myself — I  say  with  good  eyes — can  see  more  wood  than 
would  keep  the  city  of  London  in  fuel  for  fifty  years; 
wouldn't  it,  Benjamin  ?  " 

"  Why,  for  that,  Squire,"  said  the  steward,  "  Lon'on  is 
no  small  place.  If  it  was  stretched  an  end,  all  the  same 
as  a  town  on  one  side  of  the  river,  it  would  cover  some 
such  matter  as  this  here  lake.  Tho'f  I  dar'st  to  say,  that 
the  wood  in  sight  might  sarve  them  a  good  turn,  seeing 
that  the  Lon'oners  mainly  burn  coal." 

"  Now  we  are  on  the  subject  of  coal,  Judge  Temple,"  in  - 
terrupted  the  Sheriff,  "  I  have  a  thing  of  much  importance 
to  communicate  to  you;  but  I  will  defer  it  until  to-mor- 
row. I  know  that  you  intend  riding  into  the  eastern  part 
of  the  Patent,  and  I  will  accompany  you,  and  conduct  you 
to  a  spot  where  some  of  your  projects  may  be  realized. 
We  will  say  no  more  now,  for  there  are  listeners;  but  a 
Secret  has  this  evening  been  revealed  to  me,  'Duke,  that  is 


242 


THE  PIONEERS. 


of  more  consequence  to  your  welfare  than  all  your  estate 
united." 

Marmaduke  laughed  at  the  important  intelligence,  to 
which  in  a  variety  of  shapes  he  was  accustomed,  and  the 
Sheriff,  with  an  air  of  great  dignity,  as  if  pitying  his  want 
of  faith,  proceeded  in  the  business  more  immediately  be- 
fore them.  As  the  labor  of  drawing  the  net  had  been  very 
great,  he  directed  one  party  of  his  men  to  commence 
throwing  the  fish  into  piles,  preparatory  to  the  usual  di- 
vision, while  another,  under  the  superintendence  of  Ben- 
jamin, prepared  the  seine  for  a  second  haul. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

While  from  its  margin,  terrible  to  tell! 
Three  sailors  with  their  gallaut  boatswain  fell. 

Falconer. 

While  the  fishermen  were  employed  in  making  the 
preparations  for  an  equitable  division  of  the  spoil,  Eliza- 
beth and  her  friend  strolled  a  short  distance  from  the 
group,  along  the  shore  of  the  lake.  After  reaching  a  point 
to  which  even  the  brightest  of  the  occasional  gleams  of 
the  fire  did  not  extend,  they  turned,  and  paused  a  mo- 
ment, in  contemplation  of  the  busy  and  lively  party  they 
had  left,  and  of  the  obscurity,  which,  like  the  gloom  of 
oblivion,  seemed  to  envelop  the  rest  of  the  creation. 

"  This  is  indeed  a  subject  for  the  pencil ! "  exclaimed 
Elizabeth.  "Observe  the  countenance  of  that  wood- 
chopper,  while  he  exults  in  presenting  a  larger  fish  than 
common  to  my  cousin  Sheriff;  and  see,  Louisa,  how  hand- 
some and  considerate  my  dear  father  looks,  by  the  light  of 
that  fire,  where  he  stands  viewing  the  havoc  of  the  game. 
He  seems  melancholy,  as  if  he  actually  thought  that  a  day 
of  retribution  was  to  follow  this  hour  of  abundance  and 
prodigality!    Would  they  not  make  a  picture,  Louisa  ?w 

"  You  know  that  I  am  ignorant  of  all  such  accomplish- 
ments, Miss  Temple." 

"Gall  me  by  my  Christian  name"  interrupted  Elizabeth; 
"this  is  not  a  place,  neither  is  this  a  scene,  for  forms." _ 

"Well,  then,  if  I  may  venture  an  opinion/-  said  Louisa, 
timidly,  "I  should  think  it  might  indeed  make  a  picture. 
The  selfish  earnestness  of  that  Kirby  over  his  fish  would 


THE  PIONEERS. 


243 


contrast  finely  with  the — the — expression  of  Mr.  Edwards' 
face.  I  hardly  know  what  to  call  it;  but  it  is — a — is — you 
know  what  I  would  say,  dear  Elizabeth." 

"You  do  me  too  much  credit,  Miss  Grant,"  said  the 
heiress;  "lam  no  diviner  of  thoughts,  or  interpreter  of 
expressions/' 

There  was  certainly  nothing  harsh,  or  even  cold,  in  the 
manner  of  the  speaker,  but  still  it  repressed  the  conversa- 
tion, and  they  continued  to  stroll  still  further  from  the 
party,  retaining  each  other's  arm,  but  observing  a  profound 
silence.  Elizabeth,  perhaps  conscious  of  the  improper 
phraseology  of  her  last  speech,  or  perhaps  excited  by  the 
new  object  that  met  her  gaze,  was  the  first  to  break  the 
awkward  cessation  in  the  discourse,  by  exclaiming, — 

"Look,  Louisa!  we  are  not  alone;  there  are  fishermen 
lighting  a  fire  on  the  other  side  of  the  lake,  immediately 
opposite  to  us;  it  must  be  in  front  of  the  cabin  of  Leather- 
Stocking  ! " 

Through  the  obscurity,  which  prevailed  most  immedi- 
ately under  the  eastern  mountain,  a  small  and  uncertain 
light  was  plainly  to  be  seen,  though,  as  it  was  occasionally 
lost  to  the  eye,  it  seemed  struggling  for  existence.  They 
observed  it  to  move,  and  sensibly  to  lower,  as  if  carried 
down  the  descent  of  the  bank  to  the  shore.  Here,  in  a 
very  short  time,  its  flame  gradually  expanded,  and  grew 
brighter,  until  it  became  of  the  size  of  a  man's  head,  when 
it  continued  to  shine,  a  steady  ball  of  fire. 

Such  an  object,  lighted  as  it  were  by  magic,  under  the 
brow  of  the  mountain,  and  in  that  retired  and  unfre- 
quented place,  gave  double  interest  to  the  beauty  and  sin- 
gularity of  its  a|)pearance.  It  did  not  at  all  resemble  the 
large  and  unsteady  light  of  their  own  fire,  being  much 
more  clear  and  bright,  and  retaining  its  size  and  shape 
with  perfect  uniformity. 

There  are  moments  when  the  best  regulated  minds  are 
more  or  less  subjected  to  the  injurious  impressions  which 
few  have  escaped  in  infancy;  and  Elizabeth  smiled  at  her 
own  weakness,  while  she  remembered  the  idle  tales  which 
were  circulated  through  the  village,  at  the  expense  of  the 
Leather-Stocking.  The  same  ideas  seized  her  companion, 
and  at  the  same  instant,  for  Louisa  pressed  nearer  to  her 
friend,  as  she  said  in  a  low  voice,  stealing  a  timid  glance 
toward  the  bushes  and  trees  that  overhung  the  bank  near 
them : 


244 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"Did  you  ever  hear  the  singular  ways  of  this  Natty 
spoken  of,  Miss  Temple  ?  They  say  that,  in  his  youth,  he 
was  an  Indian  warrior;  or,  what  is  the  same  thing,  a  white 
man  leagued  with  the  savages;  and  it  is  thought  he  has 
been  concerned  in  many  of  their  inroads,  in  the  old  wars." 

"  The  thing  is  not  at  all  improbable,"  returned  Eliza- 
beth; "he  is  not  alone  in  that  particular." 

"No,  surely;  but  is  it  not  strange  that  he  is  so  cautious 
with  his  hut  ?  He  never  leaves  it,  without  fastening  it  in 
a  remarkable  manner;  and  in  several  instances,  when  the 
children,  or  even  the  men  of  the  village,  have  wished  to 
seek  a  shelter  there  from  the  storms,  he  has  been  known 
to  drive  them  from  his  door  with  rudeness  and  threats. 
That,  surely,  is  singular  in  this  country ! " 

"It  is  certainly  not  very  hospitable;  but  we  must  re- 
member his  aversion  to  the  customs  of  civilized  life.  You 
heard  my  father  say,  a  few  days  since,  how  kindly  he  was 
treated  by  him  on  his  first  visit  to  this  place."  Elizabeth 
paused,  and  smiled,  with  an  expression  of  peculiar  arch- 
ness, though  the  darkness  hid  its  meaning  from  her  com- 
panion, as  she  continued,  "  Besides,  he  certainly  admits 
the  visits  of  Mr.  Edwards,  whom  we  both  know  to  be  far 
from  a  savage." 

To  this  speech  Louisa  made  no  reply;  but  continued 
gazing  on  the  object  which  had  elicited  her  remarks.  In 
addition  to  the  bright  and  circular  flame,  was  now  to  be 
seen  a  fainter,  though  a  vivid  light,  of  an  equal  diameter 
to  the  other  at  the  upper  end;  but  which,  after  extending 
downwards  for  many  feet,  gradually  tapered  to  a  point  at 
its  lower  extremity.  A  dark  space  was  plainly  visible  be- 
tween the  two;  and  the  new  illumination  was  placed  be- 
neath the  other;  the  whole  forming  an  appearance  not 
unlike  an  inverted  note  of  admiration.  It  was  soon  evi- 
dent that  the  latter  was  nothing  but  the  reflection,  from 
the  water,  of  the  former;  and  that  the  object,  whatever  it 
might  be,  was  advancing  across,  or  rather  over,  the  lake, 
for  it  seemed  to  be  several  feet  above  its  surface,  in  a  direct 
line  with  themselves.  Its  motion  was  amazingly  rapid, 
the  ladies  having  hardly  discovered  that  it  was  moving  at 
all,  before  the  waving  light  of  a  flame  was  discerned,  losing 
its  regular  shape,  while  it  increased  in  size,  as  it  approached. 

"It  appears  to  be  supernatural!"  whispered  Louisa,  be- 
ginning to  retrace  her  steps  towards  the  party. 

"  It  is  beautiful !  "  exclaimed  Elizabeth. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


245 


A  brilliant,  though  waving  flame,  was  now  plainly  visi- 
ble, gracefully  gliding  over  the  lake,  and  throwing  its  light 
on  the  water  in  such  a  manner  as  to  tinge  it  slightly; 
though  in  the  airs  so  strong  was  the  contrast,  the  darkness 
seemed  to  have  the  distinctness  of  material  substances,  as 
if  the  fire  were  embedded  in  a  setting  of  ebony.  This  ap- 
pearance, however,  gradually  wore  off;  and  the  rays  from 
the  torch  struck  out,  and  enlightened  the  atmosphere  in 
front  of  it,  leaving  the  background  in  a  darkness  that  was 
more  impenetrable  than  ever. 

"  Ho !  Natty,  is  that  you  ?  "  shouted  the  Sheriff.  "  Pad- 
dle in,  old  boy,  and  Fll  give  you  a  mess  of  fish  that  is  fit 
to  place  before  the  governor." 

The  light  suddenly  changed  its  direction,  and  a  long  and 
slightly-built  boat  hove  up  out  of  the  gloom,  while  the  red 
glare  fell  on  the  weather-beaten  features  of  the  Leather- 
Stocking,  whose  tall  person  was  seen  erect  in  the  frail  ves- 
sel, wielding,  with  the  grace  of  an  experienced  boatman,  a 
long  fishing-spear,  which  he  held  by  its  centre,  first  drop- 
ing  one  end  and  then  the  other  into  the  water,  to  aid  in 
propelling  the  little  canoe  of  bark,  we  will  not  say  through, 
but  over,  the  water.  At  the  further  end  of  the  vessel  a 
form  was  faintly  seen,  guiding  its  motions,  and  using  a 
paddle  with  the  ease  of  one  who  felt  there  was  no  necessity 
for  exertion.  The  Leather-Stocking  struck  his  spear 
lightly  against  the  short  staff  which  upheld,  on  a  rude 
grating,  framed  of  old  hoops  of  iron,  the  knots  of  pine 
that  composed  the  fuel,  and  the  light,  which  glared  high, 
for  an  instant  fell  on  the  swarthy  features,  and  dark, 
glancing  eyes  of  Mohegan. 

The  boat  glided  along  the  shore  until  it  arrived  opposite 
the  fishing-ground,  when  it  again  changed  its  direction, 
and  moved  on  to  the  land,  with  a  motion  so  graceful,  and 
yet  so  rapid,  that  it  seemed  to  possess  the  power  of  regu- 
lating its  own  progress.  The  water  in  front  of  the  canoe 
was  hardly  ruffled  by  its  passage,  and  no  sound  betrayed 
the  collision,  when  the  light  fabric  shot  on  the  gravelly 
beach  for  nearly  half  its  length,  Natty  receding  a  step  or 
two  from  its  bow,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  landing. 

"Approach,  Mohegan,"  said  Marmaduke;  "approach, 
Leather-Stocking,  and  load  your  canoe  with  bass.  It 
would  be  a  shame  to  assail  the  animals  with  the  spear, 
when  such  multitudes  of  victims  lie  here,  that  will  be  lost 
as  food  for  the  want  of  mouths  to  consume  them." 


246 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  No,  no,  Judge,"  returned  Natty,  his  tall  figure  stalking 
over  the  narrow  beach,  and  ascending  to  the  little  grassy 
bottom  where  the  fish  were  laid  in  piles :  "  I  eat  of  no 
man's  wasty  ways.  I  strike  my  spear  into  the  eels  or  the 
trout,  when  I  crave  the  creaturs;  but  I  wouldn't  be  help- 
ing to  such  a  sinful  kind  of  fishing  for  the  best  rifle  that 
was  ever  brought  out  from  the  old  countries.  If  they  had 
fur,  like  a  beaver,  or  you  could  tan  their  hides,  like  a  buck, 
something  might  be  said  in  favor  of  taking  them  by  the 
thousands  with  your  nets;  but  as  God  made  them  for 
man's  food,  and  for  no  other  disarnable  reason,  I  call  it 
sinful  and  wasty  to  catch  more  than  can  be  eat." 

"Your  reasoning  is  mine;  for  once,  old  hunter,  we  agree 
in  opinion ;  and  I  heartily  wish  we  could  make  a  convert 
of  the  Sheriff.  A  net  of  half  the  size  of  this  would  supply 
the  whole  village  with  fish  for  a  week  at  one  haul." 

The  Leather-Stocking  did  not  relish  this  alliance  in  senti- 
ment; and  he  shook  his  head  doubtingly,  as  he  answered: 

"  No,  no ;  we  are  not  much  of  one  mind,  Judge,  or  you'd 
never  turn  good  hunting-grounds  into  stumpy  pastures. 
And  you  fish  and  hunt  out  of  rule;  but,  to  me, the  flesh  is 
sweeter  where  the  creatur'  has  some  chance  for  its  life : 
for  that  reason,  I  always  use  a  single  ball,  even  if  it  be  at  a 
bird  or  a  squirrel.  Besides,  it  saves  lead;  for,  when  a 
body  knows  how  to  shoot,  one  piece  of  lead  is  enough  for 
all,  except  hard-lived  animals." 

The  Sheriff  heard  these  opinions  with  great  indignation ; 
and  when  he  completed  the  last  arrangement  for  the  divis- 
ion, by  carrying,  with  his  own  hands,  a  trout  of  a  large 
size  and  placing  it  on  four  different  piles  in  succession,  as 
his  vacillating  ideas  of  justice  required,  he  gave  vent  to 
his  spleen. 

"A  very  pretty  confederacy,  indeed!  Judge  Temple, 
the  landlord  and  owner  of  a  township,  with  Nathanial 
Bumppo,  a  lawless  squatter,  and  professed  deer-killer,  in 
order  to  preserve  the  game  of  the  county!  But,  'Duke, 
when  I  fish,  I  fish;  so,  away,  boys,  for  another  haul,  and 
we'll  send  out  wagons  and  carts  in  the  morning,  to  bring 
in  our  prizes." 

Marmaduke  appeared  to  understand  that  all  opposition 
to  the  will  of  the  Sheriff  would  be  useless;  and  he  strolled 
from  the  lire  to  the  place  where  the  canoe  of  the  hunters 
lay,  whither  the  ladies  and  Oliver  Edwards  had  already 
preceded  him. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


247 


Curiosity  induced  the  females  to  approach  this  spot] 
hut  it  was  a  different  motive  that  led  the  youth  thither. 
Elizabeth,  examined  the  light  ashen  timbers  and  thin  barli 
covering  of  the  canoe,  in  admiration  of  its  neat  but  simple 
execution,  and  with  wonder  that  any  human  being  could 
be  so  daring  as  to  trust  his  life  in  so  frail  a  vessel.  But 
the  youth  explained  to  her  the  buoyant  properties  of  the 
boat,  and  its  perfect  safety  when  under  proper  manage- 
ment; adding,  in  such  glowing  terms,  a  description  of  the 
manner  in  which  the  fish  were  struck  with  the  spear,  that 
she  changed  suddenly,  from  an  apprehension  of  the  danger 
of  the  excursion,  to  a  desire  to  participate  in  its  pleasures. 
She  even"  ventured  a  proposition  to  that  effect  to  her 
father,  laughing  at  the  same  time  at  her  own  wish,  and 
accusing  herself  of  acting  under  a  woman's  caprice. 

Say  not  so,  Bess/'  returned  the  J udge :  "  I  would  have 
you  above  the  idle  fears  of  a  silly  girl.  These  canoes  are 
the  safest  kind  of  boats  to  those  who  have  skill  and  steady 
nerves.  I  have  crossed  the  broadest  part  of  the  Oneida  in 
one  much  smaller  than  this/' 

"And  I  the  Ontary,"  interrupted  the  Leather-Stocking; 
"and  that  with  squaws  in  the  canoe,  too.  But  the  Dela- 
ware women  are  used  to  the  paddle,  and  are  good  hands  in 
a  boat  of  this  natur'.  If  the  young  lady  would  like  to  see 
an  old  man  strike  a  trout  for  his  breakfast,  she  is  welcome 
to'  a  seat.  John  will  say  the  same,  seeing  that  he  built  the 
canoe,  which  was  only  launched  yesterday:  for  I'm  not 
over  cur'ous  at  such  small  work  as  brooms,  and  basket- 
making,  and  other  like  Indian  trades." 

Natty  gave  Elizabeth  one  of  his  significant  laughs,  with 
a  kind  nod  of  the  head,  when  he  concluded  his  invitation : 
but  Mohegan,  with  the  native  grace  of  an  Indian,  ap- 
proached, and  taking  her  soft  white  hand  into  his  own 
swarthy  and  wrinkled  palm,  said, — 

"  Come,  granddaughter  of  Miquon,  and  J ohn  will  be 
glad.  Trust  the  Indian ;  his  head  is  old,  though  his  hand 
is  not  steady.  The  Young  Eagle  will  go,  and  see  that  no 
harm  hurts  his  sister/' 

"  Mr.  Edwards,"  said  Elizabeth,  blushing  slightly,  "  your 
friend  Mohegan  has  given  a  promise  for  you.  Do  you 
redeem  the  pledge  ?  " 

"  With  my  life,  if  necessary.  Miss  Temple,"  cried  the 
youth,  with  fervor.  "The  sight  is  worth  some  little 
apprehension ;  for  of  real  danger  there  is  none.    I  will 


248 


THE  PIONEERS. 


go  with  you  and  Miss  Grant,  however,  to  save  appear- 
ances." 

"  With  me !  "  exclaimed  Louisa.  "  No,  not  with  me,  Mr 
Edwards;  nor,  surely,  do  you  mean  to  trust  yourself  in 
that  slight  canoe." 

"But  I  shall;  for  I  have  no  apprehensions  any  longer/1 
said  Elizabeth  stepping  into  the  boat,  and  taking  a  seat 
where  the  Indian  directed.  "  Mr.  Edwards,  you  may  re- 
main, as  three  do  seem  to  be  enough  for  such  an  egg-shell." 

"  It  shall  hold  a  fourth,"  cried  the  young  man,  spring- 
ing to  her  side,  with  a  violence  that  nearly  shook  the  weak 
fabric  of  the  vessel  asunder.  "  Pardon  me,  Miss  Temple, 
that  I  do  not  permit  these  venerable  Charons  to  take  you 
to  the  shades  unattended  by  your  genius." 

"  Is  it  a  good  or  evil  spirit  ?  "  asked  Elizabeth. 

"  Good  to  you." 

"And  mine,"  added  the  maiden,  with  an  air  that 
strangely  blended  pique  with  satisfaction.  But  the  motion 
of  the  canoe  gave  rise  to  new  ideas,  and  fortunately 
afforded  a  good  excuse  to  the  young  man  to  change  the 
discourse. 

It  appeared  to  Elizabeth  that  they  glided  over  the  water 
by  magic,  so  easy  and  graceful  was  the  manner  in  which 
Mohegan  guided  his  little  bark.  A  slight  gesture  with  his 
spear  indicated  the  way  in  which  the  Leather-Stocking 
wished  to  go,  and  a  profound  silence  was  preserved  by  the 
whole  party,  as  a  precaution  necessary  to  the  success  of 
their  fishery.  At  that  point  of  the  lake,  the  water  shoaled 
regularly,  differing  in  this  particular,  altogether,  from  those 
parts  where  the  mountains  rose,  nearly  in  perpendicular 
precipices,  from  the  beach.  There,  the  largest  vessels 
could  have  lain,  with  their  yards  interlocked  with  the 
pines ;  while  here  a  scanty  growth  of  rushes  lifted  their 
tops  above  the  lake,  gentle  curling  the  waters,  as  their 
bending  heads  waved  with  the  passing  breath  of  the  night 
air.  It  was  at  the  shallow  points,  only,  that  the  bass  could 
be  found,  or  the  net  cast  with  success. 

Elizabeth  saw  thousands  of  these  fish  swimming  in 
shoals  along  the  shallow  and  warm  waters  of  the  shore; 
for  the  flaring  light  of  their  torch  laid  bare  the  mysteries 
of  the  lake,  as  plainly  as  if  the  limpid  sheet  of  the  Otsego 
was  but  another  atmosphere.  Every  instant  she  expected 
to  see  the  impending  spear  of  Leather-Stocking  darting 
into  the  thronging  hosts  that  were  rushing  beneath  her, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


249 


where  it  would  seem  that  a  blow  could  not  go  amiss;  and 
where,  as  her  father  had  already  said,  the  prize  that  would 
be  obtained  was  worthy  any  epicure.  Natty  had  his  pecu- 
liar habits,  and,  it  would  seem,  his  peculiar  tastes  also. 
His  tall  stature,  and  his  erect  posture,  enabled  him  to  see 
much  further  than  those  who  were  seated  in  the  bottom  of 
the  canoe;  and  he  turned  his  head  warily  in  every  direc- 
tion, frequently  bending  his  body  forward,  and  straining 
his  vision,  as  if  desirous  of  penetrating  the  water  that  sur- 
rounded their  boundary  of  light.  At  length  his  anxious 
scrutiny  was  rewarded  with  success,  and,  waving  his  spear 
from  the  shore,  he  said  in  a  cautious  tone, — 

"  Send  her  outside  the  bass,  John ;  I  see  a  laker  there, 
that  has  run  out  of  the  school.  It's  seldom  one  finds  such 
a  creatur'  in  shallow  water,  where  a  spear  can  touch  it." 

Mohegan  gave  a  wave  of  assent  with  his  hand,  and  in 
the  next  instant  the  canoe  was  without  the  "  run  of  the 
bass,"  and  in  water  nearly  twenty  feet  in  depth.  A  few 
additional  knots  were  laid  on  the  grating,  and  the  light 
penetrated  to  the  bottom.  Elizabeth  then  saw  a  fish  of 
unusual  size  floating  above  small  pieces  of  logs  and  sticks. 
The  animal  was  only  distinguishable,  at  that  distance,  by 
a  slight,  but  almost  imperceptible  motion  of  its  fins  and 
tail.  The  curiosity  excited  by  this  unusual  exposure  of 
the  secrets  of  the  lake  seemed  to  be  mutual  between  the 
heiress  of  the  land  and  the  lord  of  these  waters,  for  the 
"  salmon-trout "  soon  announced  his  interest  by  raising  his 
head  and  body  for  a  few  degrees  above  a  horizontal  line, 
and  then  dropping  them  again  into  a  horizontal  position. 

"  Whist !  whist !  "  said  Natty,  in  a  low  voice,  on  hearing 
a  slight  sound  made  by  Elizabeth  in  bending  over  the  side 
of  the  canoe  in  curiosity ;  "  'tis  a  skeary  animal,  and  it's  a 
far  stroke  for  a  spear.  My  handle  is  but  fourteen  foot, 
and  the  creatur  lies  a  good  eighteen  from  the  top  of  the 
water;  but  I'll  try  him,  for  he's  a  ten -pounder." 

While  speaking,  the  Leather-Stocking  was  poising  and 
directing  his  weapon.  Elizabeth  saw  the  bright,  polished 
tines,  as  they  slowly  and  silently  entered  the  water,  where 
the  refraction  pointed  them  many  degrees  from  the  true 
direction  of  the  fish;  and  she  thought  that  the  intended 
victim  saw  them  also,  as  he  seemed  to  increase  the  play  of 
his  tail  and  fins  though  without  moving  his  station.  At 
the  next  instant  the  tall  body  of  Natty  bent  to  the  water's 
edge,  and  the  handle  of  his  spear  disappeared  in  the  lake. 


250 


THE  PIONEERS. 


The  long,  dark  streak  of  the  gliding  weapon,  and  the  little 
bubbling  vortex  which  followed  its  rapid  flight,  were 
easily  to  be  seen;  but  it  was  not  until  the  handle  shot 
again  into  the  air  by  its  own  reaction  and  its  master, 
catching  it  in  his  hand,  threw  its  tines  uppermost,  that 
Elizabeth  was  acquainted  with  the  success  of  the  blow.  A 
fish  of  great  size  was  transfixed  by  the  barbed  steel,  and 
was  very  soon  shaken  from  its  impaled  situation  into  the 
bottom  of  the  canoe. 

"  That  will  do,  John,"  said  Natty,  raising  his  prize  by 
one  of  his  fingers,  and  exhibiting  it  before  the  torch;  "1 
shall  not  strike  another  blow  to-night." 

The  Indian  again  waved  his  hand,  and  replied  with  the 
simple  and  energetic  monosyllable  of, — 

"  Good!" 

Elizabeth  was  awakened  from  the  trance  created  by  this 
scene,  and  by  gazing  in  that  unusual  manner  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  lake,  by  the  hoarse  sounds  of  Benjamin's  voice, 
and  the  dashing  of  oars,  as  the  heavier  boat  of  the  seine- 
drawers  approached  the  spot  where  the  canoe  lay,  drag- 
ging after  it  the  folds  of  the  net. 

"Haul  off,  haul  off,  Master  Bumppo,"  cried  Benjamin; 
"your  top-light  frightens  the  fish,  who  see  the  net  and 
sheer  off:  soundings.  A  fish  knows  as  much  as  a  horse,  or, 
for  that  matter,  more,  seeing  that  it's  brought  up  on  the 
water.  Haul  off,  Master  Bumppo,  haul  off,  I  say,  and 
give  a  wide  berth  to  the  seine." 

Mohegan  guided  their  little  canoe  to  a  point  where  the 
movements  of  the  fishermen  could  be  observed,  without  in- 
terruption to  the  business,  and  then  suffered  it  to  lie 
quietly  on  the  water,  looking  like  an  imaginary  vessel 
floating  in  air.  There  appeared  to  be  much  ill-humor 
among  the  party  in  the  batteau,  for  the  directions  of  Ben- 
jamin were  not  only  frequent,  but  issued  in  a  voice  that 
partook  largely  of  dissatisfaction. 

"  Pull  larboard  oar,  will  ye,  Master  Kirby  ?  "  cried  the 
old  seamen;  "pull  larboard  best.  It  would  puzzle  the 
oldest  admiral  in  the  British  fleet  to  cast  this  here  net  fair 
with  a  wake  like  a  corkscrew.  Pull  starboard,  boy,  pull 
starboard  oaA,  with  a  will." 

"  Harkee,  Mister  Pump,"  said  Kirby,  ceasing  to  row, 
and  speaking  with  some  spirit;  "I'm  a  man  that  likes 
civil  language  and  decent  treatment,  such  as  is  right  twixt 
man  and  man.    If  you  want  us  to  go  hoy,  say  so,  and  hoy 


THE  PIONEERS. 


251 


I'll  go,  for  the  benefit  of  the  company;  but  I'm  not  used 
to  being  ordered  about  like  dumb  cattle/' 

"  Who's  dumb  cattle  ?  "  echoed  Benjamin  fiercely,  turn- 
ing his  forbidding  face  to  the  glare  of  light  from  the 
canoe,  and  exhibiting  every  feature  teeming  with  the  ex- 
pression of  disgust.  "  If  you  want  to  come  aft  and  cun 
the  boat  round,  come  and  be  damned,  and  pretty  steer- 
age you'll  make  of  it.  There's  but  another  heave  of  the 
net  in  the  stern-sheets  and  we're  clear  of  the  thing.  Give 
way,  will  ye  ?  and  shoot  her  ahead  for  a  fathom  or  two, 
and  if  you  catch  me  afloat  again  with  such  a  horse-marine 
as  yourself,  why  rate  me  a  ship's  jackass,  that's  all." 

Probably  encouraged  by  the  prospect  of  a  speedy  ter- 
mination to  his  labor,  the  wood-chopper  resumed  his  oar, 
and,  under  strong  excitement,  gave  a  stroke,  that  not  only 
cleared  the  boat  of  the  net,  but  of  the  steward,  at  the 
same  instant.  Benjamin  had  stood  on  the  little  platform 
that  held  the  seine,  in  the  stern  of  the  boat,  and  the  vio- 
lent whirl  occasioned  by  the  vigor  of  the  wood-chopper's 
arm  completely  destroyed  his  balance.  The  position  of 
the  lights  rendered  objects  in  the  batteau  distinguishable, 
both  from  the  canoe  and  the  shore;  and  the  heavy  fall  on 
the  water  drew  all  eyes  to  the  steward,  as  he  lay  strug- 
gling, for  a  moment,  in  sight. 

A  loud  burst  of  merriment,  to  which,  the  lungs  of  Kirby 
contributed  no  small  part,  broke  out  like  a  chorus  of 
laughter,  and  rang  along  the  eastern  mountain,  in  echoes, 
until  it  died  away  in  distant,  mocking  mirth,  among  the 
rocks  and  woods.  The  body  of  the  steward  was  seen 
slowly  to  disappear,  as  was  expected;  but  when  the  light 
waves,  which  had  been  raised  by  his  fall,  began  to  sink  in 
calmness,  and  the  water  finally  closed  over  his  head,  un- 
broken and  still,  a  very  different  feeling  pervaded  the 
spectators. 

"  How  fare  you,  Benjamin  ?  "  shouted  Eichard  from  the 
shore. 

u  The  dumb  devil  can't  swim  a  stroke ! "  exclaimed 
Kirby,  rising,  and  beginning  to  throw  aside  his  clothes. 

"Paddle  up,  Mohegan,"  cried  young  Edwards,  "the 
light  will  show  us  where  he  lies,  and  I  will  dive  for  the 
body." 

"  0 !  save  him!  for  God's  sake,  save  him!"  exclaimed 
Elizabeth,  bowing  her  head  on  the  side  of  the  canoe  in 
horror. 


252 


THE  PIONEERS. 


A  powerful  and  dexterous  sweep  of  Mohegan's  paddle 
sent  the  canoe  directly  over  the  spot  where  the  steward 
had  fallen,  and  a  loud  shout  from  the  Leather-Stocking 
announced  that  he  saw  the  body. 

"  Steady  the  boat  while  I  dive/'  again  cried  Edwards. 

"  Gently,  lad,  gently/'  said  Natty;  "  I'll  spear  the  crea- 
tur  up  in  half  the  time,  and  no  risk  to  anybody." 

The  form  of  Benjamin  was  lying,  about  half-way  to  the 
bottom,  grasping  with  both  hands  some  broken  rushes. 
The  blood  of  Elizabeth  curdled  to  her  heart,  as  she  saw 
the  figure  of  a  fellow-creature  thus  extended  under  an 
immense  sheet  of  water,  apparently  in  motion,  by  the  un- 
dulations of  the  dying  waves,  with  its  face  and  hands, 
viewed  by  that  light,  and  through  the  medium  of  the 
fluid,  already  colored  with  hues  like  death. 

At  the  same  instant,  she  saw  the  shining  tines  of  Natty's 
spear  approaching  the  head  of  the  sufferer,  and  entwining 
themselves,  rapidly  and  dexterously  in  the  hairs  of  his 
queue  and  the  cape  of  his  coat.  The  body  was  now  raised 
slowly,  looking  ghastly  and  grim,  as  its  features  turned 
upwards  to  the  light,  and  approached  the  surface.  The 
arrival  of  the  nostrils  of  Benjamin  into  their  own  atmos- 
phere was  announced  by  a  breathing  that  would  have  done 
credit  to  a  porpoise.  For  a  moment,  Natty  held  the 
steward  suspended,  with  his  head  just  above  the  water, 
while  his  eyes  slowly  opened,  and  stared  about  him,  as  if 
he  thought  that  he  had  reached  a  new  and  unexplored 
country. 

'  As  all  the  parties  acted  and  spoke  together,  much  less 
time  was  consumed  in  the  occurrence  of  these  events,  than 
in  their  narration.  To  bring-  the  batteau  to  the  end  of  the 
spear,  and  to  raise  the  form  of  Benjamin  into  the  boat, 
and  for  the  whole  party  to  gain  the  shore,  required  but  a 
minute.  Kirby,  aided  by  Richard,  whose  anxiety  induced 
him  to  run  into  the  water  to  meet  his  favorite  assistant, 
carried  the  motionless  steward  up  the  bank,  and  seated 
him  before  the  fire,  while  the  Sheriff  proceeded  to  order 
the  most  approved  measures  then  in  use,  for  the  resuscita- 
tion of  the  drowned. 

u  Run,  Billy,"  he  cried,  "  to  the  village,  and  bring  up 
the  rum-hogshead  that  lies  before  the  door,  in  which  I  am 
making  vinegar,  and  be  quick,  boy;  don't  stay  to  empty  the 
vinegar;  and  stop  at  Mr.  Le  Quoi's,  and  buy  a  paper  of 
tobacco  and  half-a-dozen  pipes;  and  ask  Remarkable  for 


THE  PIONEERS. 


253 


some  salt,  and  one  of  her  flannel  pettieoats;  and  ask  Dr. 
Tod<?  to  send  his  lancet,  and  to  come  himself;  and — ah! 
'Puke,  what  are  you  about?  would  you  strangle  a  man 
who  is  full  of  water,  by  giving  him  rum !  Help  me  to  open 
his  hand,  that  I  may  pat  it." 

All  this  time  Benjamin  sat,  with  his  muscles  fixed,  his 
mouth  shut,  and  his  hands  clenching  the  rushes,  which  he 
had  seized  in  the  confusion  of  the  moment,  and  which,  as 
he  held  fast,  like  a  true  seaman,  had  been  the  means  of 
preventing  his  body  from  rising  again  to  the  surface.  His 
eyes,  however,  were  open,  and  stared  wildly  on  the  group 
about  the  fire,  while  his  lungs  were  playing  like  a  black- 
smith's bellows,  as  if  to  compensate  themselves  for  the 
minute  of  inaction  to  which  they  had  been  subjected.  As 
he  kept  his  lips  compressed,  with  a  most  inveterate  deter- 
mination, the  air  was  compelled  to  pass  through  his  nos- 
trils, and  he  rather  snorted  than  breathed,  and  in  such  a 
manner,  that  nothing  but  the  excessive  agitation  of  the 
Sheriff  could  at  all  justify  his  precipitous  orders. 

The  bottle,  applied  to  the  steward's  lips  by  Marmaduke, 
acted  like  a  charm.  His  mouth  opened  instinctively;  his 
hands  dropped  the  rushes,  and  seized  the  glass ;  his  eyes 
raised  from  their  horizontal  stare  to  the  heavens;  and  the 
whole  man  was  lost  for  a  moment,  in  a  new  sensation. 
Unhappily  for  the  propensity  of  the  steward,  breath  was 
as  necessary  after  one  of  these  draughts  as  after  his  sub- 
mersion, and  the  time  at  length  arrived  when  he  was  com- 
pelled to  let  go  the  bottle. 

"Why,  Benjamin!"  roared  the  Sheriff;  "you  amaze 
me !  for  a  man  of  your  experience  in  drownings  to  act  so 
foolishly !  just  now,  you  were  half  full  of  water,  and  now 
you  are" — 

"  Full  of  grog,"  interrupted  the  steward,  his  features 
settling  down,  with  amazing  flexibility,  into  their  natural 
economy.  "  But,  d'ye  see,  Squire,  I  kept  my  hatches  close, 
and  it  is  but  little  water  that  ever  gets  into  my  scuttle- 
butt. Harkee,  Master  Kirby !  I've  followed  the  salt  water 
for  the  better  part  of  a  man's  life,  and  have  seen  some 
navigation  on  the  fresh ;  but  this  here  matter  I  will  say  in 
your  favor,  and  that  is,  that  you're  the  awk'ardest  green'un 
that  ever  straddled  a  boat's  thwart.  Them  that  likes  you 
for  a  shipmate,  may  sail  with  you  and  no  thanks;  but 
dam'me  if  I  even  walk  on  the  lake  shore  in  your  company. 
For  why  ?  you'd  as  lief  drown  a  man  as  one  of  them  there 


254 


THE  PIONEERS. 


fish;  not  to  throw  a  Christian  creature  so  much  as  a 
rope's  end,  when  he  was  adrift,  and  no  life-buoy  in  Sight! 
Natty  Bumppo,  give  us  your  list.  There's  them  that  say< 
you're  an  Indian,  and  a  scalper,  but  you've  served  me  a 
good  turn,  and  you  may  set  me  down  for  a  friend;  tho'f  it 
would  have  been  more  ship-shape  to  lower  the  bight  of  a 
rope,  or  running  bow-line,  below  me,  than  to  seize  an  old 
seaman  by  his  head-lanyard;  but  I  suppose  you  are  used 
to  taking  men  by  the  hair,  and  seeing  you  did  me  good 
instead  of  harm  thereby,  why,  it's  the  same  thing,  d'ye  * 
see." 

Marmaduke  prevented  any  reply,  and  assuming  the  L 
direction  of  matters  with  a  dignity  and  discretion  that  at 
once  silenced  all  opposition  from  his  cousin,  Benjamin  was 
despatched  to  the  village  by  land,  and  the  net  was  hauled  I 
to  shore  in  such  a  manner,  that  the  fish  for  once  escaped 
its  meshes  with  impunity. 

The  division  of  the  spoils  was  made  in  the  ordinary 
manner,  by  placing  one  of  the  party  with  his  back  to  the 
game,  who  named  the  owner  of  each  pile.  Billy  Kirby 
stretched  his  large  frame  on  the  grass  by  the  side  of  the 
fire,  as  sentinel  until  morning,  over  net  and  fish ;  and  the 
remainder  of  the  party  embarked  in  the  batteau,  to  return 
to  the  village. 

The  wood -chopper  was  seen  broiling  his  supper  on  the 
coals  as  they  lost  sight  of  the  fire ;  and  when  the  boat  ap- 
proached the  shore,  the  torch  of  Mohegan's  canoe  was 
shining  again  under  the  gloom  of  the  eastern  mountain. 
Its  motion  ceased  suddenly;  a  scattering  of  brands  was  in 
the  air,  and  then  all  remained  dark  as  the  conjunction  of 
night,  forest  and  mountain  could  render  the  scene. 

The  thoughts  of  Elizabeth  wandered  from  the  youth, 
who  was  holding  a  canopy  of  shawls  over  herself  and 
Louisa,  to  the  hunter  and  the  Indian  warrior;  and  she  felt 
an  awakening  curiosity  to  visit  a  hut,  where  men  of  such 
different  habits  and  temperament  were  drawn  together  as 
by  common  impulse. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Cease  all  this  parlance  about  hills  and  dales  ; 
None  listen  to  thy  scenes  of  boyish  frolic, 
Fond  dotard !  with  such  tickled  ears  as  thou  dost : 
Come !  to  thy  tale. 

Duo. 

Mr.  Jokes  arose  on  the  following  morning  with  the 
sun,  and  ordering  his  own  and  Marmaduke's  steeds  to  be 
saddled,  he  proceeded,  with  a  countenance  big  with  some 
business  of  unusual  moment,  to  the  apartment  of  the 
Judge.  The  door  was  unfastened,  and  Richard  entered, 
with  the  freedom  that  characterized  not  only  the  inter- 
course between  the  cousins,  but  the  ordinary  manners  of 
the  Sheriff.  J 

"Well  'Duke,  to  horse,"  he  cried,  "and  I  will  explain  to 
you  my  meaning  in  the  allusions  I  made  last  night.  David 
says,  in  the  Psalms— no,  it  was  Solomon,  but  it  was  all  in 
the  family— Solomon  said  there  was  a  time  for  all  things; 
and  in  my  humble  opinion,  a  fishing  party  is  not  the 
moment  for  discussing  important  subjects.  Ha!  why, 
what  the  devil  ails  you,  Marmaduke  ?  ain't  you  well  ?  let 
me  feel  your  pulse;  my  grandfather,  you  know"— - 

"Quite  well  in  the  body,  Richard/'  interrupted  the 
Judge,  repulsing  his  cousin,  who  was  about  to  assume  the 
functions  that  properly  belonged  to  Dr.  Todd;  "  but  ill  at  4 
heart.    I  received  letters  by  the  post  of  last  night,  after 
we  returned  from  the  point,  and  this  among  the  number." 

The  Sheriff  took  the  letter,  but  without  turning  his  eyes 
on  the  writing,  for  he  was  examining  the  appearance  of 
the  other  with  astonishment.  From  the  face  of  his  cousin 
the  gaze  of  Richard  wandered  to  the  table,  which  was  cov- 
ered with  letters,  packets,  and  newspapers;  then  to  the 
apartment  and  all  that  it  contained.  On  the  bed  there 
was  the  impression  that  had  been  made  by  a  human  form, 
but  the  coverings  were  unmoved,  and  everything  indicated 
that  the  occupant  of  the  room  had  passed  a  sleepless 
night.  The  candles  had  burned  to  the  sockets,  and  had 
evidently  extinguished  themselves  in  their  own  fragments, 


256 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Marmaduke  had  drawn  his  curtains,  and  opened  both  the 
shutters  and  the  sashes,  to  admit  the  balmy  air  of  a  spring 
morning;  but  his  pale  cheek,  his  quivering  lip,  and  his 
sunken  eye,  presented  altogether  so  very  different  an  ap- 
pearance from  the  usual  calm,  manly,  and  cheerful  aspect 
of  the  Judge,  that  the  Sheriff  grew  each  moment  more  and 
more  bewildered  with  astonishment.  At  length  Richard 
found  time  to  cast  his  eyes  on  the  direction  of  the  letter, 
which  he  still  held  unopened,  crumpling  it  in  his  hand. 

"What!  a  ship-letter!"  he  exclaimed;  "and  from  Eng- 
land! ha!  'Duke,  there  must  be  news  of  importance  in- 
deed!" 

"Read  it,"  said  Marmaduke,  pacing  the  floor  111  exces- 
sive agitation. 

Richard,  who  commonly  thought  aloud,  was  unable  to 
read  a  letter  without  suffering  part  of  its  contents  to  escape 
him  in  audible  sounds.  So  much  of  the  epistle  as  was 
divulged  in  that  manner,  we  shall  lay  before  the  reader, 
accompanied  by  the  passing  remarks  of  the  Sheriff : — 

'"  London,  February  12th,  1793/  What  a  devil  of  a 
passage  she  had!  but  the  wind  has  been  northwest  for  six 
weeks,  until  within  the  last  fortnight. 

"  <  Sir,  your  favors  of  August  10th,  September  23d,  and 
of  December  1st,  were  received  in  due  season,  and  the  first 
answered  by  return  of  packet.  Since  the  receipt  of  the  last, 
I ' " — here  a  long  passage  was  rendered  indistinct,  by  a 
kind  of  humming  noise  made  by  the  Sheriff.  "  '  I  grieve 
to  say,  that  '—hum,  hum,  bad  enough  to  be  sure—'  but  trust 
that  a  merciful  Providence  has  seen  fit '—hum,  hum,  hum; 
seems  to  be  a  good  pious  sort  of  a  man,  'Duke ;  belongs  to 
,  the  Established  Church,  I  dare  say;  hum,  hum— 'vessel 
sailed  from  Falmouth  on  or  about  the  1st  September  of 
last  year,  and'— hum,  hum,  hum.  'If  anything  should 
transpire  on  this  afflicting  subject  shall  not  fail  '—hum, 
hum,  really  a  good-hearted  man  for  a  lawyer, — '  but  can 
communicate  nothing  further  at  present  —hum,  hum. 
'The  national  convention ' —hum,  hum  — ' unfortunate 
Louis'— hum,  hum— 'example  of  your  Washington '—a 
very  sensible  man,  I  declare,  and  none  of  your  crazy 
democrats.  Hum,  hum— 'our  gallant  navy'— hum,  hum 
— '  under  our  most  excellent  monarch  '—aye,  a  good  man 
enough,  that  King  George,  but  bad  advisers;  hum,  hum 
— '  I  beg  to  conclude  with  assurances  of  my  perfect  respect ' 
—hum,  hum— 'Andrew  Holt.'    Andrew  Holt-— a  very 


THE  PIONEERS. 


257 


sensible,  feeling  man,  this  Mr.  Andrew  Holt — but  the 
writer  of  evil  tidings.  What  will  you  do  next,  cousin 
Marmaduke  ?  " 

"  What  can  I  do,  Richard,  but  trust  to  time,  and  the  will 
of  Heaven  ?  Here  is  another  letter  from  Connecticut,  but 
it  only  repeats  the  substance  of  the  last.  There  is  but  one 
consoling  reflection  to  be  gathered  from  the  English  news, 
which  is,  that  my  last  letter  was  received  by  him  before 
the  ship  sailed." 

"This  is  bad  enough,  indeed!  Duke,  bad  enough,  in- 
deed !  and  away  go  all  my  plans  of  putting  wings  to  the 
house,  to  the  devil.  I  had  made  arrangements  for  a  ride 
to  introduce  you  to  something  of  a  very  important  nature. 
You  know  how  much  you  think  of  mines  " — 

"  Talk  not  of  mines,"  interrupted  the  Judge;  "there  is 
a  sacred  duty  to  be  performed,  and  that  without  delay.  I 
must  devote  this  day  to  writing;  and  thou  must  be  my 
assistant,  Richard;  it  will  not  do  to  employ  Oliver  in  a 
matter  of  such  secrecy  and  interest/' 

"  No,  no,  'Duke/'  cried  the  Sheriff,  squeezing  his  hand ; 
"I  am  your  man,  just  now;  we  are  sisters'  children,  and 
blood,  after  all,  is  the  best  cement  to  make  friendship 
stick  together.  Well,  well,  there  is  no  hurry  about  the 
silver  mine,  just  now;  another  time  will  do  as  well.  We 
shall  want  Dirky  Van,  I  suppose?" 

Marmaduke  assented  to  this  indirect  question,  and  the 
Sheriff  relinquished  all  his  intentions  on  the  subject  of 
the  ride,  and  repairing  to  the  breakfast  parlor,  he  de- 
spatched a  messenger  to  require  the  immediate  presence  of 
Dirck  Van  der  School. 

The  village  of  Templeton  at  that  time  supported  but 
two  lawyers,  one  of  whom  was  introduced  to  our  readers  in 
the  bar-room  of  the  "  Bold  Dragoon,"  and  the  other  was 
the  gentleman  of  whom  Richard  spoke  by  the  friendly  yet 
familiar  appellation  of  Dirck,  or  Dirky  Van.  Great  good- 
nature, a  very  tolerable  share  of  skill  in  his  profession, ' 
and,  considering  the  circumstances,  no  contemptible  degree 
of  honesty,  were  the  principal  ingredients  in  the  character 
of  this  man,  who  was  known  to  the  settlers  as  Squire  Van 
der  School,  and  sometimes  by  the  flattering,  though  anoma- 
lous title  of  the  "  Dutch"  or  "  honest  lawyer."  We  would 
not  wish  to  mislead  our  readers  in  their  conceptions  of 
any  of  our  characters,  and  we  therefore  feel  it  necessary 
to  add,  that  the  adjective,  in  the  preceding  agnomen  of 


258  THE  PIONEERS. 

Mr.  Van  der  School,  was  used  in  direct  reference  to  its 
substantive.  Our  orthodox  friends  need  not  be  told,  that 
all  merit  in  this  world  is  comparative ;  and  once  for  all, 
we  desire  to  say,  that  where  anything  which  involves  quali- 
fies or  character  is  asserted,  we  must  be  understood  to 
mean,  "  under  the  circumstances." 

During  the  remainder  of  the  day,  the  Judge  was  closeted 
with  his  cousin  and  his  lawyer;  and  no  one  else  was  ad- 
mitted to  his  apartment,  excepting  his  daughter.  The 
deep  distress,  that  so  evidently  affected  Marmaduke,  was 
in  some  measure  communicated  to  Elizabeth  also;  for  a 
look  of  dejection  shaded  her  intelligent  features,  and  the 
buoyancy  of  her  animated  spirits  was  sensibly  softened. 
Once  on  that  day  young  Edwards,  who  was  a  wondering 
and  observant  spectator  of  the  sudden  alteration  produced 
in  the  heads  of  the  family,  detected  a  tear  stealing  over 
the  cheek  of  Elizabeth,  and  suffusing  her  bright  eyes  with 
a  softness  that  did  not  always  belong  to  their  expression.  ^ 

«  Have  any  evil  tidings  been  received,  Miss  Temple  ? 
he  inquired,  with  an  interest  and  voice  that  caused  Louisa 
Grant  to  raise  her  head  from  her  needle  work,  with  a 
quickness  at  which  she  instantly  blushed  herself.  I 
would  offer  my  services  to  your  father,  if,  as  I  suspect,  he 
needs  an  agent  in  some  distant  place,  and  I  thought  it 
would  give  you  relief." 

"  We  have  certainly  heard  bad  news,"  returned  Elizabeth, 
"and  it  may  be  necessary  that  my  father  should  leave 
home  for  a  short  period;  unless  I  can  persuade  him  to 
trust  my  cousin  Richard  with  the  business,  whose  absence 
from  the  country,  just  at  this  time,  too,  might  be  mex- 

PeThet'youth  paused  a  moment,  and  the  blood  gathered 

slowly  to  his  temples,  as  he  continued,— 

"  If  it  be  of  a  nature  that  I  could  execute  "— 

*  It  is  such  as  can  only  be  confided  to  one  we  know— one 

of  ourselves." 

«  Surely,  you  know  me,  Miss  Temple!  he  added,  with 
a  warmth  that  he  seldom  exhibited,  but  which  did  some- 
times escape  him,  in  the  moments  of  their  frank  communi- 
cations. "  Have  I  lived  five  months  under  your  roof  to  be 
a  stransrcr  ?  " 

Elizabeth  was  engaged  with  her  needle  also,  and  she 
bent  her  head  to  one  .sides  affecting  to  arrange  her  muslin; 
but  her  hand  shook,  her  color  heightened,  and  her  eyes 


THE  PIONEERS. 


259 


lost  their  moisture  in  an  expression  of  ungovernable  in- 
terest, as  she  said, — 

"  How  much  do  we  know  of  you,  Mr.  Edwards  ? 99 

"How  much!"  echoed  the  youth,  gazing  from  the 
speaker  to  the  mild  countenance  of  Louisa,  that  was  also 
illuminated  with  curiosity;  "how  much!  have  I  been  so 
long  an  inmate  with  you  and  not  known  ? 99 

The  head  of  Elizabeth  turned  slowly  from  its  affected 
position,  and  the  look  of  confusion  that  had  blended  so 
strongly  with  an  expression  of  interest  changed  to  a  smile. 

"We  know  you,  sir,  indeed;  you  are  called  Mr.  Oliver 
Edwards.  I  understand  that  you  have  informed  my  friend, 
Miss  Grant,  that  you  are  a  native  " — 

"  Elizabeth ! 99  exclaimed  Louisa,  blushing  to  the  eyes, 
and  trembling  like  an  aspen ;  "  you  misunderstood  me,  dear 
Miss  Temple;  I— I— it  was  only  conjecture.  '  Besides,  if 
Mr.  Edwards  is  related  to  the  natives,  why  should  we  re- 
proach him  ?  In  what  are  we  better  ?  at  least  I,  who  am 
the  child  of  a  poor  and  unsettled  clergyman  ?  " 

Elizabeth  shook  her  head  doubtingly,  and  even  laughed, 
but  made  no  reply;  until,  observing  the  melancholy  which 
pervaded  the  countenance  of  her  companion,  who  was 
thinking  of  the  poverty  and  labors  of  her  father,  she  con- 
tinued,— 

"  Nay,  Louisa,  humility  carries  you  too  far.  The  daugh- 
ter of  a  minister  of  the  Church  can  have  no  superiors. 
Neither  I  nor  Mr.  Edwards  is  quite  your  equal,  unless/' 
she  added,  again  smiling,  "  he  is  in  secret  a  king." 

"A  faithful  servant  of  the  King  of  kings,  Miss  Temple, 
is  inferior  to  none  on  earth,"  said  Louisa;  "but  his  honors 
are  his  own ;  I  am  only  the  child  of  a  poor  and  friendless 
man,  and  can  claim  no  other  distinction.  Why,  then, 
should  I  feel  myself  elevated  above  Mr.  Edwards,  because 
—because— perhaps  he  is  only  very,  very  distantly  related 
to  John  Mohegan  ?" 

Glances  of  a  very  comprehensive  meaning  were  ex- 
changed between  the  heiress  and  the  young  man,  as  Louisa 
betrayed,  while  vindicating  his  lineage,  the  reluctance 
with  which  she  admitted  his  alliance  with  the  old  warrior; 
but  not  even  a  smile  at  the  simplicity  of  their  companion 
was  indulged  by  either. 

"  On  reflection,  I  must  acknowledge  that  my  situation 
here  is  somewhat  equivocal,"  said  Edwards,  "  though  I  may 
be  said  to  have  purchased  it  with  my  blood," 


260 


THE  PIONEERS. 


«  The  blood,  too,  of  one  of  the  native  lords  of  the  soil !  " 
cried  Elizabeth,  who  evidently  put  little  faith  in  his  abo- 
riginal descent. 

"  Do  I  bear  the  marks  of  my  lineage  so  very  plainly  im- 
pressed on  my  appearance  ?  I  am  dark,  but  not  very  red 
—not  more  so  than  common  ?  " 

"  Rather  more  so,  just  now." 

"  I  am  sure,  Miss  Temple,"  cried  Louisa,  "  you  cannot 
have  taken  much  notice  of  Mr.  Edwards.  His  eyes  are  not 
so  black  as  Mohegan's  or  even  your  own,  nor  is  his  hair!" 

"  Very  possibly,  then,  I  can  lay  claim  to  the  same  descent. 
It  would  be  a  great  relief  to  my  mind  to  think  so,  for  I 
own  that  I  grieve  when  I  see  old  Mohegan  walking  about 
these  lands,  like  the  ghost  of  one  of  their  ancient  posses- 
sors, and  feel  how  small  is  my  own  right  to  possess  them." 

"Do  you*?"  cried  the  youth,  with  a  vehemence  that 
startled  the  ladies. 

"I  do,  indeed,"  returned  Elizabeth,  after  suffering  a 
moment  to  pass  in  surprise;  "but  what  can  I  do  ?  what 
can  my  father  do  ?  Should  we  offer  the  old  man  a  home 
and  a  maintenance,  his  habits  would  compel  him  to  refuse 
us.  Neither,  were  we  so  silly  as  to  wish  such  a  thing, 
could  we  convert  these  clearings  and  farms  again  into 
hunting-grounds,  as  the  Leather-Stocking  would  wish  to 
see  them."  . , _ 

"You  speak  the  truth,  Miss  Temple,"  said  Edwards. 
"  What  can  you  do,  indeed  ?  But  there  is  one  thing  that 
I  am  certain  you  can  and  will  do,  when  you  become  the 
mistress  of  these  beautiful  valleys— use  your  wealth  with 
indulgence  to  the  poor  and  charity  to  the  needy;  indeed, 
you  can  do  no  more."  . 

"And  that  will  be  doing  a  good  deal "  said  Louisa,  smil- 
ing in  her  turn.  "  But  there  will,  doubtless,  be  one  to 
take  the  direction  of  such  things  from  her  hands." 

"  I  am  not  about  to  disclaim  matrimony,  like  a  silly  girl, 
who  dreams  of  nothing  else  from  morning  till  night;  but 
I  am  a  nun  here,  without  the  vow  of  celibacy.  Where 
shall  I  find  a  husband  in  these  forests  ?  " 

"There  is  none,  Miss  Temple  "  said  Edwards,  quickly ; 
"there  is  none  who  has  a  right  to  aspire  to  you,  and  I 
know  that  you  will  wait  to  be  sought  by  your  equal ;  or  die 
as  you  live/ loved,  respected,  and  admired  by  all  who  know 

^°The  young  man  seemed  to  think  that  he  had  said  all 


THE  PIONEERS. 


that  was  required  by  gallantry,  for  he  arose,  and  taking  his 
hat,  hurried  from  the  apartment.  Perhaps  Louisa  thought 
that  he  had  said  more  than  was  neeessary,  for  she  sighed, 
with  an  aspiration  so  low  that  it  was  scarcely  audible  to 
herself,  and  bent  her  head  over  her  work  again.  And  it 
is  possible  that  Miss  Temple  wished  to  hear  more,  for  her 
eyes  continued  fixed  for  a  minute  on  the  door  through 
which  the  young  man  had  passed,  then  glanced  quickly 
towards  her  companion,  when  the  long  silence  that  suc- 
ceeded, manifested  how  much  zest  may  be  given  to  the 
conversation  of  two  maiden's  under  eighteen,  by  the  pres- 
ence of  a  youth  of  three-and-twenty. 

The  first  person  encountered  by  Mr.  Edwards,  as  he 
rather  rushed  than  walked  from  the  house,  was  the  little 
square-built  lawyer,  with  a  large  bundle  of  papers  under 
his  arm,  a  pair  of  green  spectacles  on  his  nose,  with  glasses 
at  the  sides,  as  if  to  multiply  his  power  of  detecting  frauds, 
by  additional  organs  of  vision. 

Mr.  Van  der  School  was  a  well-educated  man,  out  of 
slow  comprehension,  who  had  imbibed  a  wariness  in  his 
speeches  and  actions,  from  having  suffered  by  his  collisions 
with  his  more  mercurial  and  apt  brethren  who  had  laid 
the  foundations  of  their  practice  in  the  eastern  courts,  and 
who  had  sucked  in  shrewdness  with  their  mother's  milk. 
The  caution  of  this  gentleman  was  exhibited  in  his  actions, 
by  the  utmost  method  and  punctuality,  tinctured  with  a 
good  deal  of  timidity;  and  in  his  speeches,  by  a  paren- 
thetical style,  that  frequently  left  to  his  auditors  a  long 
search  after  his  meaning. 

"A  good  morning  to  you,  Mr.  Van  der  School/'  said 
Edwards;  "it  seems  to  be  a  busy  day  with  us  at  the 
Mansion-house." 

"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Edwards  (if  that  is  your  name  (for, 
being  a  stranger,  we  have  no  other  evidence  of  the  fact 
than  your  own  testimony),  as  I  understand  you  have  given 
it  to  Judge  Temple),  good  morning,  sir.  It  is,  apparently^ 
a  busy  day  (but  a  man  of  your  discretion  need  not  be  told 
(having,  doubtless,  discovered  it  of  your  own  accord),  that 
appearances  are  often  deceitful)  up  at  the  Mansion-house." 

"  Have  you  papers  of  consequence  that  will  require  copy- 
ing ?  can  I  be  of  assistance  in  any  way  ?  " 

"  There  are  papers  (as  doubtless  you  see  (for  your  eyes 
are  young)  by  the  outsides)  that  require  copying." 

"  Well,  then,  I  will  accompany  you  to  your  office,  and 


262 


THE  PIONEERS. 


receive  such  as  are  most  needed,  and  by  night  I  shall  have 
them  done,  if  there  be  much  haste." 

"  I  shall  be  always  glad  to  see  you,  sir,  at  my  office  (as 
in  duty  bound  (not  that  it  is  obligatory  to  receive  any  man 
within  your  dwelling  (unless  so  inclined),  which  is  a  castle), 
according  to  the  forms  of  politeness),  or  at  any  other  place; 
but  the  papers  are  most  strictly  confidential  (and  as  such, 
cannot  be  read  by  any  one),  unless  so  directed  (by  Judge 
Temple's  solemn  injunctions),  and  are  invisible  to  all  eyes, 
excepting  those  whose  duties  (I  mean  assumed  duties)  re- 
quire it  of  them." 

"  Well,  sir,  as  I  perceive  that  I  can  be  of  no  service,  I 
wish  you  another  good  morning;  but  beg  you  will  remem- 
ber that  I  am  quite  idle  just  now,  and  I  wish  you  would 
intimate  as  much  to  Judge  Temple,  and  make  him  a 
tender  of  my  services  in  any  part  of  the  world,  unless — 
unless — it  be  far  from  Templeton." 

"  I  will  make  the  communication,  sir,  in  your  name  (with 
your  own  qualifications),  as  your  agent.  Good  morning, 
sir.  But  stay  proceedings,  Mr.  Edwards  (so  called),  for  a 
moment.  Do  you  wish  me  to  state  the  offer  of  travelling 
as  a  final  contract  (for  which  consideration  has  been  re- 
ceived at  former  dates  (by  sums  advanced),  which  would 
be  binding),  or  as  a  tender  of  services  for  which  compensa- 
tion is  to  be  paid  (according  to  future  agreement  between 
the  parties),  on  performance  of  the  conditions  ? ?? 

"Any  way,  any  way,"  said  Edwards :  "  he  seems  in  dis- 
tress, and  I  would  assist  him." 

"The  motive  is  good,  sir  (according  to  appearances 
(which  are  often  deceitful)  on  first  impressions),  and  does 
you  honor.  I  will  mention  your  wish,  young  gentleman 
(as  you  now  seem),  and  will  not  fail  to  communicate  the 
answer  by  five  o'clock  p.m.  of  this  present  day  (God  will- 
ing), if  you  give  me  an  opportunity  so  to  do." 

The  ambiguous  nature  of  the  situation  and  character  of 
Mr.  Edwards  had  rendered  him  an  object  of  peculiar  sus- 
picion to  the  lawyer,  and  the  youth  was  consequently  too 
much  accustomed  to  similar  equivocal  and  guarded 
speeches  to  feel  any  unusual  disgust  at  the  present  dia- 
logue, lie  saw  at  once  that  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
practitioner  to  conceal  the  nature  of  his  business,  even 
from  the  private  secretary  of  Judge  Temple;  and  he  knew 
too  well  the  difficulty  of  comprehending  the  meaning  of 
Mr.  Van  der  School,  when  the  gentleman  most  wished  to 


THE  PIONEERS. 


263 


be  luminous  in  his  discourse,  not  to  abandon  all  thoughts 
of  a  discovery,  when  he  perceived  that  the  attorney  was 
endeavoring  to  avoid  anything  like  an  approach  to  a  cross- 
examination.  They  parted  at  the  gate,  the  lawyer  walk- 
ing, with  an  important  and  hurried  air,  towards  his  office, 
keeping  his  right  hand  firmly  clenched  on  the  bundle  of 
papers. 

It  must  have  been  obvious  to  all  our  readers,  that  the 
youth  entertained  an  unusual  and  deeply  seated  prejudice 
against  the  character  of  the  Judge;  but,  owing  to  some 
counteracting  cause,  his  sensations  were  now  those  of 
powerful  interest  in  the  state  of  his  patron's  present  feel- 
ings, and  in  the  cause  of  his  secret  uneasiness. 

He  remained  gazing  after  the  lawyer,  until  the  door 
closed  on  both  the  bearer  and  the  mysterious  packet, 
when  he  returned  slowly  to  the  dwelling,  and  endeavored 
to  forget  his  curiosity  in  the  usual  avocations  of  his  office. 

When  the  Judge  made  his  reappearance  in  the  circles 
of  his  family,  his  cheerfulness  was  tempered  by  a  shade  of 
melancholy  that  lingered  for  many  days  around  his  manly 
brow;  but  the  magical  progression  of  the  season  aroused 
him  from  his  temporary  apathy,  and  his  smiles  returned 
with  the  summer. 

The  heats  of  the  days,  and  the  frequent  occurrence  of 
balmy  showers,  had  completed,  in  an  incredibly  short 
period,  the  growth  of  plants,  which  the  lingering  spring 
had  so  long  retarded  in  the  germ;  and  the  woods  presented 
every  shade  of  green  that  the  American  forests  know. 
The  stumps  in  the  cleared  fields  were  already  hidden  be- 
neath the  wheat  that  was  waving  with  every  breath  of  the 
summer  air,  shining,  and  changing  its  hues  like  velvet. 

During  the  continuance  of  his  cousin's  dejection,  Mr. 
Jones  forbore,  with  much  consideration,  to  press  on  his 
attention  a  business  that  each  hour  was  drawing  nearer  to 
the  heart  of  the  Sheriff,  and  which,  if  any  opinion  could 
be  formed  by  his  frequent  private  conferences  with  the 
man  who  was  introduced  in  these  pages  by  the  name  of 
J otham,  at  the  bar-room  of  the  "  Bold  Dragoon/'  was  be- 
coming also  of  great  importance. 

At  length  the  Sheriff  ventured  to  allude  again  to  the 
subject;  and  one  evening,  in  the  beginning  of  July,  Mar- 
maduke  made  him  a  promise  of  devoting  the  following 
day  to  the  desired  excursion. 


264 


THE  PIONEERS. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Speak  on,  my  dearest  father! 
Thv  words  are  like  the  breezes  of  the  west. 

J  MlLMA. 

It  was  a  mild  and  soft  morning,  when  Marmaduke  and 
Richard  mounted  their  horses  to  proceed  on  the  expedi- 
tion that  had  so  long  been  uppermost  in  the  thoughts  of 
the  latter :  and  Elizabeth  and  Louisa  appeared  at  the  same 
instant  in  the  hall,  attired  for  an  excursion  on  foot. 

The  head  of  Miss  Grant  was  covered  by  a  neat  little  hat 
of  green  silk,  and  her  modest  eyes  peered  from  under  its 
shade,  with  the  soft  languor  that  characterized  her  whole 
appearance;  but  Miss  Temple  trod  her  father's  wide  apart- 
ments with  the  step  of  their  mistress,  holding  in  her  hand, 
dangling  by  one  of  its  ribbons,  the  gipsy  that  was  to  con- 
ceal the  glossy  locks  that  curled  around  her  polished  fore- 
head in  rich  profusion. 

"What  !  are  you  for  a  walk,  Bess?"  cried  the  Judge, 
suspending  his  movements  for  a  moment,  to  smile,  with  a 
father's  fondness,  at  the  display  of  womanly  grace  and 
beauty  that  his  child  presented.  "  Remember  the  heats  of 
July,  my  daughter;  nor  venture  further  than  thou  canst 
retrace  before  the  meridian.  Where  is  thy  parasol,  girl  ? 
thou  wilt  lose  the  polish  of  that  brow,  under  this  sun  and 
southern  breeze,  unless  thou  guard  it  with  unusual  care." 

"  I  shall  then  do  more  honor  to  my  connections,"  re- 
turned the  smiling  daughter.  "Cousin  Richard  has  a 
bloom  that  any  lady  might  envy.  At  present  the  resem- 
blance between  us  is  so  trifling,  that  no  stranger  would 
know  us  to  be  '  sisters '  children.'  " 

"  Grandchildren,  you  mean,  cousin  Bess,"  said  the  Sher- 
iff. "But  on,  Judge  Temple;  time  and  tide  wait  for  no 
man;  ana  if  you  take  my  counsel,  sir,  in  twelve  months 
from  this  day  you  may  make  an  umbrella  for  your  daugh- 
ter of  her  camel's  hair  shawl,  and  have  its  frame  of  solid 
silver.  I  ask  nothing  for  myself,  'Duke;  you  have  been  a 
good  friend  to  me  already ;  besides,  all  that  I  have  will  go 


THE  PIONEERS. 


265 


to  Bess  there,  one  of  these  melancholy  days,  so  it's  as  long 
as  it's  short,  where  I  or  you  leave  it.  But  we  have  a  day's 
ride  before  us,  sir;  so  move  forward,  or  dismount,  and  say 
you  won't  go  at  once." 

"Patience,  patience,  Dickon,"  returned  the  Judge, 
checking  his  horse,  and  turning  again  to  his  daughter. 
"If  thou  art  for  the  mountains,  love,  stray  not  too  deep 
into  the  forest,  I  entreat  thee ;  for,  though  it  is  done  often 
with  impunity,  there  is  sometimes  danger." 

"  Not  at  this  season,  I  believe,  sir,"  said  Elizabeth;  "  for, 
I  will  confess,  it  is  the  intention  of  Louisa  and  myself  to 
stroll  among  the  hills." 

"  Less  at  this  season  than  in  the  winter,  dear ;  but  still 
there  may  be  danger  in  venturing  too  far.  But  though 
thou  art  resolute,  Elizabeth,  thou  art  too  much  like  thy 
mother  not  to  be  prudent." 

The  eyes  of  the  parent  turned  reluctantly  from  his 
child,  and  the  Judge  and  Sheriff  rode  slowly  through  the 
gateway,  and  disappeared  among  the  buildings  of  the 
village. 

During  this  short  dialogue,  young  Edwards  stood,  an 
attentive  listener,  holding  in  his  hand  a  fishing-rod,  the 
day  and  the  season  having  tempted  him  also  to  desert  the 
house,  for  the  pleasure  of  exercise  in  the  air.  As  the  eques- 
trians turned  through  the  gate,  he  approached  the  young 
females,  who  were  already  moving  towards  the  street, 
and  was  about  to  address  them,  as  Louisa  paused,  and 
said  quickly, — 

"  Mr.  Edwards  would  speak  to  us,  Elizabeth." 

The  other  stopped  also,  and  turned  to  the  youth,  politely, 
but  with  a  slight  coldness  in  her  air,  that  sensibly  checked 
the  freedom  with  which  he  had  approached  them. 

"Your  father  is  not  pleased  that  you  should  walk  unat- 
tended in  the  hills,  Miss  Temple.  If  I  might  offer  myself 
as  a  protector" — 

"  Does  my  father  select  Mr.  Oliver  Edwards  as  the  organ 
of  his  displeasure?"  interrupted  the  lady. 

"Good  Heaven!  you  misunderstood  my  meaning:  I 
should  have  said  uneasy,  for  not  pleased.  I  am  his  servant, 
madam,  and  in  consequence  yours.  I  repeat  that,  with 
your  consent,  I  will  change  my  rod  for  a  fowling  piece,  and 
keep  nigh  you  on  the  mountain." 

"I  thank  you,  Mr.  Edwards;  but  where  there  is  no  dan- 
ger, no  protection  is  required.    We  are  not  yet  reduced  to 


266 


THE  PIONEERS. 


wandering  among  these  free  hills  accompanied  by  a  body- 
guard. If  such  a  one  is  necessary,  there  he  is,  however. 
Here,  Brave, — Brave, — my  noble  Brave !  " 

The  hugh  mastiff,  that  has  been  already  mentioned,  ap- 
peared from  his  kennel,  gaping  and  stretching  himself, 
with  pampered  laziness ;  but  as  his  mistress  again  called, 
"  Come,  dear  Brave ;  once  have  you  served  your  master 
well ;  let  us  see  how  you  can  do  your  duty  by  his  daugh- 
ter!" the  dog  wagged  his  tail,  as  if  he  understood  her 
language,  walked  with  a  stately  gait  to  her  side,  where  he 
seated  himself,  and  looked  up  at  her  face,  with  an  intelli- 
gence but  little  inferior  to  that  which  beamed  in  her  own 
lovely  countenance. 

She  resumed  her  walk,  but  again  paused,  after  a  few 
steps,  and  added,  in  tones  of  conciliation, — 

"  You  can  be  serving  us  equally,  and,  I  presume,  more 
agreeably  to  yourself,  Mr.  Edwards,  by  bringing  us  a  string 
of  your  favorite  perch,  for  the  dinner-table." 

When  they  again  began  to  walk,  Miss  Temple  did  not 
look  back  to  see  how  the  youth  bore  this  repulse;  but  the 
head  of  Louisa  was  turned  several  times  before  they 
reached  the  gate,  on  that  considerate  errand. 

"  I  am  afraid,  Elizabeth,"  she  said,  "  that  we  have  mor- 
tified Oliver.  He  is  still  standing  where  we  left  him,  lean- 
ing on  his  rod.    Perhaps  he  thinks  us  proud." 

"He  thinks  justly,"  exclaimed  Miss  Temple,  as  if  awak- 
ing from  a  deep  musing;  "he  thinks  justly,  then.  We 
are  too  proud  to  admit  of  such  particular  attentions  from 
a  young  man  in  an  equivocal  situation.  What !  make  him 
the  companion  of  our  most  private  walks !  It  is  pride, 
Louisa,  but  it  is  the  pride  of  a  woman." 

It  was  several  minutes  before  Oliver  aroused  himself 
from  the  abstracted  position  in  which  he  was  standing 
when  Louisa  last  saw  him ;  but  when  he  did,  he  muttered 
something  rapidly  and  incoherently,  and  throwing  his  rod 
over  his  shoulder,  he  strode  down  the  walk,  through  the 
gate,  and  along  one  of  the  streets  of  the  village,  until  he 
reached  the  lake-shore,  with  the  air  of  an  emperor.  At 
this  spot  boats  were  kept  for  the  use  of  Judge  Temple  and 
his  family.  The  young  man  threw  himself  into  a  light 
skiff,  and  seizing  the  oars,  he  sent  it  across  the  lake  towards 
the  hut  of  Leather-Stocking,  with  a  pair  of  vigorous  arms. 
By  the  time  he  had  rowed  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  his  reflections 
were  less  bitter:  and  when  he  saw  the  bushes  that  lined 


THE  PIONEERS. 


267 


the  shore  in  front  of  Natty's  habitation  gliding  by  him,  as 
if  they  possessed  the  motion  which  proceeded  from  his 
own  efforts,  he  was  quite  cooled  in  mind,  though  some- 
what heated  in  body.  It  is  quite  possible,  that  the  very 
same  reason  which  guided  the  conduct  of  Miss  Temple, 
suggested  itself  to  a  man  of  the  breeding  and  education 
of  the  youth;  and  it  is  very  certain,  that  if  such  were  the 
case,  Elizabeth  rose  instead  of  falling  in  the  estimation  of 
Mr.  Edwards. 

The  oars  were  now  raised  from  the  water,  and  the  boat 
•shot  close  in  to  the  land,  where  it  lay  gently  agitated  by 
waves  of  its  own  creating,  while  the  young  man,  first  cast- 
ing a  cautious  and  searching  glance  around  him  in  every 
direction,  put  a  small  whistle  to  his  mouth,  and  blew  a 
long,  shrill  note,  that  rang  among  the  echoing  rocks  behind 
the  hut.  At  this  alarm,  the  hounds  of  Natty  rushed  out 
of  their  bark  kennel,  and  commenced  their  long  piteous 
howls,  leaping  about  as  if  half  frantic,  though  restrained 
by  the  lashes  of  buckskin  by  which  they  were  fastened. 

"  Quiet,  Hector,  quiet,"  said  Oliver,  again  applying  his 
whistle  to  his  mouth,  and  drawing  out  notes  still  more 
shrill  than  before.  No  reply  was  made,  the  dogs  having 
returned  to  their  kennel  at  the  sounds  of  his  voice. 

Edwards  pulled  the  bows  of  the  boat  on  the  shore,  and 
landing,  ascended  the  beach  and  approached  the  door  of 
the  cabin.  The  fastenings  were  soon  undone,  and  he  en- 
tered, closing  the  door  after  him,  when  all  was  as  silent, 
in  that  retired  spot,  as  if  the  foot  of  man  had  never  trod 
the  wilderness.  The  sounds  of  the  hammers,  that  were  in 
incessant  motion  in  the  village,  were  faintly  heard  across 
the  water;  but  the  dogs  had  crouched  into  their  lairs, 
satisfied  that  none  but  the  privileged  had  approached  the 
forbidden  ground.  # 

A  quarter  of  an  hour  elapsed  before  the  youth  reappeared, 
when  he  fastened  the  door  again,  and  spoke  kindly  to  the 
hounds.  The  dogs  came  out  at  the  well-known  tones,  and 
the  slut  jumped  upon  his  person,  whining  and  barking,  as 
if  entreating  Oliver  to  release  her  from  prison.  But  old 
Hector  raised  his  nose  to  the  light  current  of  air,  and 
opened  a  long  howl,  that  might  have  been  heard  for  a  mile. 

"Ha!  what  do  you  scent,  old  veteran  of  the  woods?" 
cried  Edwards.  "If  a  beast,  it  is  a  bold  one;  and  if  a 
man,  an  impudent."  ^  _  ■  . 

He  sprang  through  the  top  of  a  pine  that  had  tallen 


268 

» 


THE  PIONEERS. 


near  the  side  of  the  hut,  and  ascended  a  small  hillock  that 
sheltered  the  cabin  to  the  south,  where  he  caught  a  glimpse 
of  the  formal  figure  of  Hiram  Doolittle,  as  it  vanished, 
with  unusual  rapidity  for  the  architect,  amid  the  bushes. 

"  What  can  that  fellow  be  wanting  here  ? 99  muttered 
Oliver.  "  He  has  no  business  in  this  quarter,  unless  it  be 
curiosity,  which  is  an  endemic  in  these  woods.  But 
against  that  I  will  effectually  guard,  though  the  dogs 
should  take  a  liking  to  his  ugly  visage,  and  let  him  pass." 
The  youth  returned  to  the  door,  while  giving  vent  to  this 
soliloquy,  and  completed  the  fastenings,  by  placing  a  small 
chain  through  a  staple,  and  securing  it  there  by  a  padlock. 
"  He  is  a  pettifogger,  and  surely  must  know  that  there  is 
such  a  thing  as  feloniously  breaking  into  a  man's  house." 

Apparently  well  satisfied  with  this  arrangement,  the 
youth  again  spoke  to  the  hounds ;  and,  descending  to  the 
shore,  he  launched  his  boat,  and  taking  up  his  oars,  pulled 
off  into  the  lake. 

There  were  several  places  in  the  Otsego  that  were  cele- 
brated fishing-ground  for  perch.  One  was  nearly  opposite 
to  the  cabin,  and  another,  still  more  famous,  was  near  a 
point  at  the  distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half  above  it,  under 
the  brow  of  the  mountain,  and  on  the  same  side  of  the 
lake  with  the  hut.  Oliver  Edwards  pulled  his  little  skiff 
to  the  first,  and  sat,  for  a  minute,  undecided  whether  to 
continue  there,  with  his  eyes  on  the  door  of  the  cabin,  or 
to  change  his  ground,  with  a  view  to  get  superior  game. 
While  gazing  about  him,  he  saw  the  light-colored  bark 
canoe  of  his  old  companions,  riding  on  the  water,  at  the 
point  we  have  mentioned,  and  containing  two  figures,  that 
he  at  once  knew  to  be  Mohegan  and  the  Leather-Stocking. 
This  decided  the  matter,  and  the  youth  pulled,  in  a  very 
few  minutes,  to  the  place  where  his  friends  were  fishing, 
and  fastened  his  boat  to  the  light  vessel  of  the  Indian. 

The  old  men  received  Oliver  with  welcoming  nods,  but 
neither  drew  his  line  from  the  water,  nor  in  the  least 
varied  his  occupation.  When  Edwards  had  secured  his 
own  boat,  he  baited  his  hook  and  threw  it  into  the  lake 
without  speaking. 

"  Did  you  stop  at  the  wigwam,  lad,  as  you  rowed  past  ? 99 
asked  Natty. 

"Yes,  and  I  found  all  safe;  but  that  carpenter  and  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  Mr.,  or  as  they  call  him  Squire,  Doolittle, 
was  prowling  through  the  woods.    I  made  sure  of  the  door 


THE  PIONEERS.  269 

before  I  left  the  hut,  and  I  think  he  is  too  great  a  coward 
to  approach  the  hounds."  „ 

"There's  little  to  be  said  in  favor  01  that  man,  said 
Natty,  while  he  drew  in  a  perch  and  baited  his  hook, 
"lie'  craves  dreadfully  to  come  into  the  cabin,  and  has  as 
o-ood  as  asked  me  as  much  to  my  face;  but  I  put  him  ott 
with  unsartain  answers,  so  that  he  is  no  wiser  than  bolo- 
mon.  This  comes  of  having  so  many  laws  that  such  a 
man  may  be  called  on  to  interpret  them." 

"  I  fear  he  is  more  knave  than  fool,"  cried  Edwards  y  he 
makes  a  tool  of  that  simple  man,  the  Sheriff;  and  I  dread 
that  his  impertinent  curiosity  may  yet  give  us  much 

trouble.^  ^  mUch  about  the  cabin,  lad,  111  shoot 

the  creatur',"  said  the  Leather-Stocking,  quite  simply. 

"  No,  no,  Natty,  you  must  remember  the  law,  said  Ed- 
wards, "or  we  shall  have  you  in  trouble;  and  that,  old 
man,  would  be  an  evil  dav,  and  sore  tidings  to  us  all/ 

"  Would  it,  boy! "  exclaimed  the  hunter,  raising  his  eyes 
with  a  look  of  friendly  interest,  towards  the  youth.  "  You 
have  the  true  blood  in  your  veins,  Mr.  Oliver;  and  ill 
support  it  to  the  face  of  Judge  Temple,  or  in  any  court  m 
the  country.  How  is  it,  John?  Do  I  speak  the  true 
word  ?    Is  the  lad  staunch,  and  of  the  right  blood 

"He  is  a  Delaware,"  said  Mohegan,  "and  my  brother. 
The  Young  Eagle  is  brave,  and  he  will  be  a  chief.  No 
harm  can  come."  ;  . 

"  Well,  well,"  cried  the  youth,  impatiently,  say  no  more 
about  it,  my  good  friends;  if  I  am  not  all  that  your  par- 
tiality would  make  me,  I  am  yours  through  life,  in  pros- 
perity as  in  poverty.    We  will  talk  of  other  matters. 

The  old  hunters  yielded  to  his  wish,  which  seemed  to  be 
their  law.  For  a  short  time  a  profound  silence  prevailed, 
during  which  each  man  was  very  busy  with  his  hook  and 
line;  but  Edwards,  probably  feeling  that  it  remained  with 
him  to  renew  the  discourse,  soon  observed,  with  the  air  ot 
one  who  knew  not  what  he  said, —  .  0 

"  How  beautifully  tranquil  and  glassy  the  lake  is  !  baw 
you  it  ever  more  calm  and  even  than  at  this  moment, 

^  "I7  have  known  the  Otsego  water  for  five-and-forty 
years,"  said  Leather-Stocking;  "and  I  will  say  that  for  it, 
which  is,  that  a  cleaner  spring  or  better  fishing  is  not  to 
be  found  in  the  land.    Yes,  yes;  I  had  the  place  to  myself 


27  o 


THE  PIONEERS. 


once,  and  a  cheerful  ti  me  I  had  of  it.  The  game  was 
plenty  as  heart  could  wish;  and  there  was  none  to  meddle 
with  the  ground,  unless  there  might  have  been  a  hunting 
party  of  the  Delawares  crossing  the  hills,  or,  maybe,  a 
rifling  scout  of  them  thieves,  the  Iroquois.  There  was 
one  or  two  Frenchmen  that  squatted  in  the  flats,  further 
west,  and  married  squaws;  and  some  of  the  Scotch-Irishers 
from  the  Cherry  Valley,  would  come  on  to  the  lake,  and 
borrow  my  canoe  to  take  a  mess  of  parch,  or  drop  a  line 
for  salmon-trout ;  but,  in  the  main,  it  was  a  cheerful  place, 
and  I  had  but  little  to  disturb  me  in  it.  John  would 
come,  and  John  knows." 

Mohegan  turned  his  dark  face  at  this  appeal;  and, mov- 
ing his  hand  forward  with  a  graceful  motion  of  assent,  he 
spoke,  using  the  Delaware  language — 

"  The  land  was  owned  by  my  people ;  we  gave  it  to  my 
brother,  in  council— to  the  Fire-eater ;  and  what  the  Dela- 
wares give  lasts  as  long  as  the  waters  run.  Hawkey e 
smoked  at  that  council,  for  we  loved  him." 

"  No,  no,  J ohn,"  said  Natty ;  "  I  was  no  chief,  seeing 
that  I  knowed  nothing  of  scholarship,  and  had  a  white 
skin.  But  it  was  a  comfortable  hunting-ground  then,  lad, 
and  would  have  been  so  to  this  day,  but  for  the  money  of 
Marmaduke  Temple,  and  the  twisty  ways  of  the  law." 

"It  must  have  been  a  sight  of  melancholy  pleasure, 
indeed,"  said  Edwards,  while  his  eye  roved  along  the  shores 
and  over  the  hills,  where  the  clearings,  groaning  with  the 
golden  corn,  were  cheering  the  forests  with  the  signs  of 
life,  "  to  have  roamed  over  these  mountains,  and  along  this 
sheet  of  beautiful  water,  without  a  living  soul  to  speak  to, 
or  to  thwart  your  humor." 

"Haven't  I  said  it  was  cheerful?"  said  Leather-Stock- 
ing. "Yes,  yes;  when  the  trees  began  to  be  covered  with 
leaves,  and  the  ice  was  out  of  the  lake,  it  was  a  second 
paradise.  I  have  travelled  the  woods  for  fifty-three  years, 
and  have  made  them  my  home  for  more  than  forty;  and 
I  can  say  that  I  have  met  but  one  place  that  was  more  to 
my  liking;  and  that  was  only  to  eye-sight  and  not  for 
hunting  or  fishing." 

"  And  where  was  that  ?  "  asked  Edwards. 

"  Where  !  why  up  on  the  Cattskills.  I  used  often  to  go 
up  into  the  mountains  after  wolves'  skins  and  bears;  once 
they  paid  me  to  get  them  a  stuffed  painter,  and  so  I  often 
went.    There's  a  place  in  them  hills  that  I  used  to  climb 


THE  PIONEERS, 


271 


to  when  I  wanted  to  see  the  carryings  on  of  the  world,  that; 
would  well  pay  any  man  for  a  barked  shin  or  a  torn  moc- 
casin. You  know  the  Cattskills,  lad;  for  you  must  have 
seen  them  on  your  left,  as  you  followed  the  river  up  from 
York,  looking  as  blue  as  a  piece  of  clear  sky,  and  holding 
the  clouds  on  their  tops,  as  the  smoke  curls  over  the  head 
of  an  Indian  chief  at  the  council  fire.  Well,  there's  the 
High-peak  and  the  Round-top,  which  lay  back  like  a  father 
and  mother  among  their  children,  seeing  they  are  far  above 
all  the  other  hills.  But  the  place  I  mean  is  next  to  the 
river,  where  one  of  the  ridges  juts  out  a  little  from  the 
rest,  and  where  the  rocks  fall,  for  the  best  part  of  a  thou- 
sand feet,  so' much  up  and  down,  that  a  man  standing  on 
their  edges  is  fool  enough  to  think  he  can  jump  from  top 
to  bottom." 

"  What  see  you  when  you  get  there  ?  "  asked  Edwards. 

"  Creation,"  said  Natty,  dropping  the  end  of  his  rod  into 
the  water,  and  sweeping  one  hand  around  him  in  a  circle : 
"all  creation,  lad.  I  was  on  that  hill  when  Vaughan 
burned  'Sopus  in  the  last  war;  and  I  saw  the  vessels  come 
out  of  the  Highlands  as  plain  as  I  can  see  that  lime-scow 
rowing  into  the  Susquehanna,  though  one  was  twenty 
times  further  from  me  than  the  other.  The  river  was  in 
sight  for  seventy  miles,  looking  like  a  curled  shaving 
under  my  feet,  though  it  was  eight  long  miles  to  its  banks. 
I  saw  the  hills  in  the  Hampshire  grants,  the  Highlands  of 
the  river,  and  all  that  God  had  done,  or  man  could  do,  far 
as  eye  could  reach — you  know  that  the  Indians  named  me 
for  my  sight,  lad;  and  from  the  flat  on  the  top  of  that 
mountain,  I  have  often  found  the  place  where  Albany 
stands.  And  as  for  'Sopus,  the  day  the  royal  troops  burnt 
the  town,  the  smoke  seemed  so  nigh,  that  I  thought  I 
could  hear  the  screeches  of  the  women." 

"  It  must  have  been  worth  the  toil  to  meet  with  such  a 
glorious  view." 

"If  being  the  best  part  of  a  mile  in  the  air,  and  having 
men's  farms  and  housen  at  your  feet,  with  rivers  looking 
like  ribbons,  and  mountains  bigger  than  the  'Vision/ 
seeming  to  be  haystacks  of  green  grass  under  you,  gives 
any  satisfaction  to  a  man,  I  can  recommend  the  spot. 
When  I  first  came  into  the  woods  to  live,  I  used  to  have 
weak  spells  when  I  felt  lonesome ;  and  then  I  would  go 
into  the  Cattskills,  and  spend  a  few  days  on  that  hill  to  look 
at  the  ways  of  man;  but  jf.s  now  many  a  year  since  I  felt 


272  THE  PIONEERS. 

any  such  longings,  and  I  am  getting  too  old  for  rugged 
rocks.  But  there's  a  place,  a  short  two  miles  back  of  that 
very  hill,  that  in  late  times  I  relished  better  than  the 
mountain;  for  it  was  more  covered  with  the  trees,  and 

natural."  . r--    .  ,  . 

"And  where  was  that?"  inquired  Edwards,  whose 
curiosity  was  strongly  excited  by  the  simple  description  of 
the  hunter.  ;  ,  , 

"  Why,  there's  a  fall  in  the  hills  where  the  water  of  two 
little  ponds,  that  lie  near  each  other,  breaks  out  of  their 
bounds  and  runs  over  the  rocks  into  the  valley.  Ihe 
stream  is,  maybe,  such  a  one  as  would  turn  a  mill,  if  so 
useless  a  thing  was  wanted  in  the  wilderness.  But  the 
hand  that  made  that  '  Leap '  never  made  a  mill.  There 
the  water  comes  crooking  and  winding  among  the  rocks; 
first  so  slow  that  a  trout  could  swim  in  it,  and  then  start- 
ing and  running  like  a  creatur'  that  wanted  to  make  a  far 
spring,  till  it  gets  to  where  the  mountain  divides,  like  the 
cleft  hoof  of  a  deer,  leaving  a  deep  hollow  for  the  brook 
to  tumble  into.  The  first  pitch  is  nigh  two  hundred  feet, 
and  the  water  looks  like  flakes  of  driven  snow  afore  it 
touches  the  bottom;  and  there  the  stream  gathers  itself 
together  again  for  a  new  start,  and  maybe  flutters  over 
fifty  feet  of  flat  rock  before  it  falls  for  another  hundred, 
when  it  jumps  about  from  shelf  to  shelf,  first  turning  this- 
away  and  then  turning  that-away,  striving  to  get  out  of 
the  hollow,  till  it  finallv  comes  to  the  plain  " 

"I  have  never  heard  of  this  spot  before;  it  is  not  men- 
tioned in  the  books."  ; 

*  I  never  read  a  book  in  my  life,"  said  Leatner-btock- 
ing;  "and  how  should  a  man  who  has  lived  in  towns  and 
schools  know  anything  about  the  wonders  of  the  woods  ? 
No,  no,  lad;  there  has  that  little  stream  of  water  been 
playing  among  the  hills  since  He  made  the  world,  and  not 
a  dozen  white  men  have  ever  laid  eyes  on  it.  The  rock- 
sweeps  like  mason-work,  in  a  half-round,  on  both  sides  of 
the  fall,  and  shelves  over  the  bottom  for  fifty  feet ;  so  that 
when  I've  been  sitting  at  the  foot  of  the  first  pitch,  and 
my  hounds  have  run  into  the  caverns  behind  the  sheet  of 
water,  they've  looked  no  bigger  than  so  many  rabbits.  To 
my  judgment,  lad,  it's  the  best  piece  of  work  that  I  ve  met 
with  in  the  woods;  and  none  know  how  often  the  hand  ot 
God  is  seen  in  the  wilderness,  but  them  that  rove  it  for  a 
man's  life." 


THE  PIONEERS. 


273 


"  What  becomes  of  the  water  ?  In  which  direction  does 
it  run  ?    Is  it  a  tributary  of  the  Delaware  ?  " 

"  Anan  ! "  said  Natty. 

"Does  the  water  run  into  the  Delaware  ?" 

"No,  no;  it's  a  drop  for  the  old  Hudson,  and  a  merry 
time  it  has  till  it  gets  down  olf  the  mountain.  I've  sat  on 
the  shelving  rock  many  a  long  hour,  boy,  and  watched  the 
bubbles  as  they  shot  by  me,  and  thought  how  long  it  would 
be  before  that  very  water,  which  seemed  made  for  the 
wilderness,  would  be  under  the  bottom  of  a  vessel,  and 
tossing  in  the  salt  sea.  It  is  a  spot  to  make  a  man  sol- 
emnize. You  can  see  right  down  into  the  valley  that  lies 
to  the  east  of  the  High  Peak,  where,  in  the  fall  of  the 
year,  thousands  of  acres  of  woods  are  before  your  eyes,  in 
the  deep  hollow,  and  along  the  side  of  the  mountain, 
painted  like  ten  thousand  rainbows,  by  no  hand  of  man, 
though  without  the  ordering  of  God's  providence." 

"You  are  eloquent,  Leather-Stocking,"  exclaimed  the 
youth. 

"Anan ! "  repeated  Natty. 

"  The  recollection  of  the  sight  has  warmed  your  blood, 
old  man.  How  many  years  is  it  since  you  saw  the  place  ?  " 

The  hunter  made  no  reply;  but,  bending  his  ear  near 
the  water,  he  sat  holding  his  breath,  and  listening  atten- 
tively as  if  to  some  distant  sound.  At  length  he  raised  his 
head,  and  said, — 

"  If  I  hadn't  fastened  the  hounds  with  my  own  hands, 
with  a  fresh  leash  of  green  buckskin,  I'd  take  a  Bible  oath 
that  I  heard  old  Hector  ringing  his  cry  on  the  mountain." 

"  It  is  impossible,"  said  Edwards ;  "  it  is  not  an  hour 
since  I  saw  him  in  his  kennel." 

By  this  time  the  attention  of  Mohegan  was  attracted  to 
the  sounds ;  but,  notwithstanding  the  youth  was  both  silent 
and  attentive,  he  could  hear  nothing  but  the  lowing  of 
some  cattle  from  the  western  hills.  He  looked  at  the  old 
men,  Natty  sitting  with  his  hand  to  his  ear,  like  a  trumpet, 
and  Mohegan  bending  forward,  with  an  arm  raised  to  a 
level  with  his  face,  holding  the  forefinger  elevated  as  a 
signal  of  attention,  and  laughed  aloud  at  what  he  deemed 
to  be  their  imaginary  sounds. 

"  Laugh  if  you  will,  boy,"  said  Leather-Stocking;  "the 
hounds  be  out,  and  are  hunting  a  deer.  No  man  can  de- 
ceive me  in  such  a  matter.  I  wouldn't  have  had  the  thing 
happen  for  a  beaver's  skin.    Not  that  I  care  for  the  law ! 


274 


THE  PIONEERS. 


but  the  venison  is  lean  now,  and  the  dumb  things  run  the 
flesh  off  their  own  bones  for  no  good.  Now  do  you  hear 
the  hounds  ? 99 

Edwards  started,  as  a  full  cry  broke  on  his  ear,  chang- 
ing from  the  distant  sounds  that  were  caused  by  some  in- 
tervening hill,  to  confused  echoes  that  rang  among  the 
rocks  that  the  dogs  were  passing,  and  then  directly  to  a 
deep  and  hollow  baying  that  pealed  under  the  forest  on 
the  lake  shore.  These  variations  in  the  tones  of  the 
hounds  passed  with  amazing  rapidity;  and  while  his  eyes 
were  glancing  along  the  margin  of  the  water,  a  tearing  of 
the  branches  of  the  alder  and  dog-wood  caught  his  atten- 
tion, at  a  spot  near  them,  and  at  the  next  moment  a  noble 
buck  sprang  on  the  shore,  and  buried  himself  in  the  lake. 
A  full-mouthed  cry  followed,  when  Hector  and  the  slut 
shot  through  the  opening  in  the  bushes,  and  darted  into 
the  lake  also,  bearing  their  breasts  gallantly  against  the 
water. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Oft  in  the  full  descending  flood  he  tries 

To  lose  the  scent,  and  lave  his  burning  sides.  Thomson. 

"  I  knowed  it — I  knowed  it ! 99  cried  Natty,  when  both 
deer  and  hounds  were  in  full  view ;  "  the  buck  has  gone 
by  them  with  the  wind,  and  it  has  been  too  much  for  the 
poor  rogues;  but  I  must  break  them  of  these  tricks,  or 
they'll  give  me  a  deal  of  trouble.  He-ere,  he-ere— shore 
with  you,  rascals — shore  with  you — will  yo  ?  0 !  on5  with 
you,  old  Hector,  or  I'll  hatchel  your  hide  with  my  ramrod 
when  I  get  ye." 

The  dogs  knew  their  master's  voice,  and  after  swimming 
in  a  circle,  as  if  reluctant  to  give  over  the  chase,  and  yet 
afraid  to  persevere,  they  finally  obeyed,  and  returned  to 
the  land,  where  they  filled  the  air  with  their  cries. 

In  the  mean  time  the  deer,  urged  by  his  fears,  had  swum 
over  half  the  distance  between  the  shore  and  the  boats, 
before  his  terror  permitted  him  to  see  the  new  danger. 
But  at  the  sounds  of  Natty's  voice,  he  turned  short  in  his 
course,  and  for  a  few  moments  seemed  about  to  rush  back 
again,  and  brave  the  dogs.    His  retreat  in  this  direction 


THE  PIONEERS. 


was,  however,  effectually  cut  off,  and  turning  a  second 
time,  he  urged  his  course  obliquely  for  the  centre  of  the 
lake>  with  an  intention  of  landing  on  the  western  shore. 
As  the  buck  swam  by  the  fishermen,  raising  his  nose  high 
into  the  air,  curling  the  water  before  his  slim  neck  like  the 
beak  of  a  galley,  the  Leather-Stocking  began  to  sit  very 
uneasy  in  his  canoe. 

"  'lis  a  noble  creatur' " !  he  exclaimed ;  "  what  a  pair  of 
horns!  a  man  might  hang  up  all  his  garments  on  the 
branches.  Let  me  see — July  is  the  last  month,  and  the 
flesh  must  be  getting  good."  While  he  was  talking,  Natty 
had  instinctively  employed  himself  in  fastening  the  inner 
end  of  the  bark  rope,  that  served  him  for  a  cable,  to  a 
paddle,  and  rising  suddenly  on  his  legs,  he  cast  this  buoy 
away,  and  cried,  "Strike  out,  John!  let  her  go.  The 
creatur's  a  fool  to  tempt  a  man  in  this  way/' 

Mohegan  threw  the  fastening  of  the  youth's  boat  from 
the  canoe,  and  with  one  stroke  of  his  paddle  sent  the  light 
bark  over  the  water  like  a  meteor. 

"  Hold ! "  exclaimed  Edwards.  "  Eemember  the  law,  my 
old  friends.  You  are  in  plain  sight  of  the  village,  and  I 
know  that  Judge  Temple  is  determined  to  prosecute  all 
indiscriminately,  who  kill  deer  out  of  season." 

The  remonstrance  came  too  late :  the  canoe  was  already 
far  from  the  skiff,  and  the  two  hunters  were  too  much 
engaged  in  the  pursuit  to  listen  to  his  voice. 

The  buck  was  now  within  fifty  yards  of  his  pursuers, 
cutting  the  water  gallantly,  and  snorting  at  each  breath 
with  terror  and  his  exertions,  while  the  canoe  seemed  to 
dance  over  the  waves,  as  it  rose  and  fell  with  the  undula- 
tions made  by  its  own  motion.  Leather-Stocking  raised 
his  rifle  and  freshened  the  priming,  but  stood  in  suspense 
whether  to  slay  his  victim  or  not. 

is  Shall  I,  John,  or  no  ?  "  he  said.  "  It  seems  but  a  poor 
advantage  to  take  of  the  dumb  thing,  too.  I  won't;  it 
has  taken  to  the  water  on  its  own  natur,'  which  is  the  rea- 
son that  God  has  given  to  a  deer,  and  I'll  give  it  the  lake 
play;  so,  John,  lay  out  your  arm  and  mind  the  turn  of  the 
buck;  it's  easy  to  catch  them,  but  they'll  turn  like  a  snake." 

The  Indian  laughed  at  the  conceit  of  his  friend,  but 
continued  to  send  the  canoe  forward  with  a  velocity  that 
proceeded  much  more  from  his  skill  than  his  strength. 
Both  of  the  old  men  now  used  the  language  of  the  Dela- 
wares  when  they  spoke. 


276 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  Hugh !  "  exclaimed  Mohegan ;  "  the  deer  turns  his 
head.    Hawkeye,  lift  your  spear." 

Natty  never  moved  abroad  without  taking  with  him 
every  implement  that  might,  by  possibility,  be  of  service 
in  his  pursuits.  From  his  rifle  he  never  parted ;  and  al- 
though intending  to  fish  with  the  line  the  canoe  was 
invariably  furnished  with  all  of  its  utensils,  even  to  its 
grate.  This  precaution  grew  out  of  the  habits  of  the 
hunter,  who  was  often  led,  by  his  necessities  or  his  sports, 
far  beyond  the  limits  of  his  original  destination.  A  few 
years  earlier  than  the  date  of  our  tale,  the  Leather-Stock- 
ing had  left  his  hut  on  the  shores  of  the  Otsego,  with  his 
rifle  and  his  hounds,  for  a  few  days'  hunting  in  the  Vills ; 
but  before  he  returned  he  had  seen  the  waters  of  Ontario. 
One,  two,  or  even  three  hundred  miles  had  once  been 
nothing  to  his  sinews,  which  were  now  a  little  stiffened  by 
age.  The  hunter  did  as  Mohegan  advised,  and  prepared 
to  strike  a  blow,  with  the  barbed  weapon,  into  the  neck  of 
the  buck. 

"Lay  her  more  to  the  left,  John,"  he  cried,  "lay  her 
more  to  the  left ;  another  stroke  of  the  paddle,  and  I  have 
him." 

While  speaking,  he  raised  the  spear,  and  darted  it  from 
him  like  an  arrow.  At  that  instant  the  buck  turned,  the 
long  pole  glanced  by  him,  the  iron  striking  against  his 
horn,  and  buried  itself,  harmlessly,  in  the  lake. 

"  Back  water,"  cried  Natty,  as  the  canoe  glided  over  the 
place  where  the  spear  had  fallen;  "hold  water,  John." 

The  pole  soon  reappeared,  shooting  upwards  from  the 
lake,  and  as  the  hunter  seized  it  in  his  hand,  the  Indian 
whirled  the  light  canoe  round,  and  renewed  the  chase. 
But  this  evolution  gave  the  buck  a  great  advantage;  and 
it  also  allowed  time  for  Edwards  to  approach  the  scene  of 
action. 

"  Hold  your  hand,  Natty ! "  cried  the  youth, "  hold  your 
hand !  remember  it  is  out  of  season." 

This  remonstrance  was  made  as  the  batteau  arrived  close 
to  the  place  where  the  deer  was  struggling  with  the  water, 
his  back  now  rising  to  the  surface,  now  sinking  beneath  it, 
as  the  waves  curled  from  his  neck,  the  animal  still  sustain- 
ing itself  nobly  against  the  odds. 

"  Hurrah!  "  shouted  Edwards,  inflamed  beyond  prudence 
at  the  sight;  "mind  him  as  he  doubles — mind  him  as  he 
doubles;  sheer  more  to  the  right,  Mohegan,  more  to  the 


THE  PIONEERS 


277 


right,  and  I'll  have  him  by  the  horns;  Til  throw  the  rope 
over  his  antlers." 

The  dark  eye  of  the  old  warrior  was  dancing  m  his  head 
with  a  wild  animation,  and  the  sluggish  repose  in  which 
his  aged  frame  had  been  resting  in  the  canoe  was  now 
changed  to  all  the  rapid  inflections  of  practiced  agility. 
The  canoe  whirled  with  each  cunning  evolution  of  the 
chase,  like  a  bubble  floating  in  a  whirlpool;  and  when  the 
direction  of  the  pursuit  admitted  of  a  straight  course,  the 
little  bark  skimmed  the  lake  with  a  velocity  that  urged 
the  deer  to  seek  its  safety  in  some  new  turn. 

It  was  the  frequency  of  these  circuitous  movements, 
that,  by  confining  the  action  to  so  small  a  compass,  enabled 
the  youth  to  keep  near  his  companions.  More  than  twenty 
times  both  the  pursued  and  the  pursuers  glided  by  him, 
just  without  the  reach  of  his  oars,  until  he  thought  the 
best  way  to  view  the  sport  was  to  remain  stationary,  and, 
by  watching  a  favorable  opportunity,  assist  as  much  as  he 
could,  in  taking  the  victim. 

He  was  not  required  to  wait  long,  for  no  sooner  had  he 
adopted  this  resolution,  and  risen  in  the  boat,  than  he  saw 
the  deer  coming  bravely  towards  him,  with  an  apparent 
intention  of  pushing  for  a  point  of  land  at  some  distance 
from  the  hounds,  who  were  still  barking  and  howling  on 
the  shore.  Edwards  caught  the  painter  of  his  skiff,  and, 
making  a  noose,  cast  it  from  him  with  all  his  force,  and 
luckily  succeeded  in  drawing  its  knot  close  around  one  of 
the  antlers  of  the  buck. 

For  one  instant,  the  skiff  was  drawn  through  the  water, 
but  in  the  next,  the  canoe  glided  before  it,  and  Natty, 
bending  low,  passed  his  knife  across  the  throat  of  the  ani- 
mal, whose  blood  followed  the  wound,  dyeing  the  waters. 
The  short  time  that  was  passed  in  the  last  struggles  of  the 
animal  was  spent  by  the  hunters  in  bringing  their  boats 
together,  and  securing  them  in  that  position,  when  Leather- 
Stocking  drew  the  deer  from  the  water,  and  laid  its  life- 
less form  in  the  bottom  of  the  canoe.  He  placed  his  hands  on 
the  ribs,  and  on  different  parts  of  the  body  of  his  prize,  and 
then,  raising  his  head,  he  laughed  in  his  peculiar  manner. 

"So  much  for  Marmaduke  Temple's  law!"  he  said. 
"This  warms  a  body's  blood,  old  John;  I  haven't  killed  a 
buck  in  the  lake  afore  this,  sin'  many  a  year.  I  call  that 
good  venison,  lad ;  and  I  know  them  that  will  relish  the 
creatur's  steaks,  for  all  the  betterments  in  the  land." 


278 


THE  PIONEERS. 


The  Indian  had  long  been  drooping  with  his  years,  and 
perhaps  under  the  calamities  of  his  race,  but  this  invigor- 
ating and  exciting  sport  caused  a  gleam  of  sunshine  to 
cross  his  swarthy  face  that  had  long  been  absent  from  his 
features.  It  was  evident  the  old  man  enjoyed  the  chase 
more  as  a  memorial  of  his  youthful  sports  and  deeds,  than 
with  any  expectation  of  profiting  by  the  success.  He  felt 
the  deer,  however,  lightly,  his  hand  already  trembling  with 
the  reaction  of  his  unusual  exertions,  and  smiled  with  a 
nod  of  approbation,  as  he  said,  in  the  emphatic  and  senti- 
tious  manner  of  his  people,— 

"  Good!" 

"  I  am  afraid,  Natty,"  said  Edwards,  when  the  heat  of 
the  moment  had  passed,  and  his  blood  began  to  cool, "  that 
we  have  all  been  equally  transgressors  of  the  law.  But 
keep  your  own  counsel,  and  there  are  none  here  to  betray 
us.  Yet,  how  came  those  dogs  at  large?  I  left  them 
securely  fastened,  I  know,  for  I  felt  the  thongs,  and  ex- 
amined the  knots,  when  I  was  at  the  hut." 

"  It  has  been  too  much  for  the  poor  things,"  said  Natty, 
"to  have  such  a  buck  take  the  wind  of  them.  See,  lad, 
the  pieces  of  buckskin  are  hanging  from  their  necks  yet. 
Let  us  paddle  up,  John,  and  I  will  call  them  in,  and  look 
a  little  into  the  matter." 

When  the  old  hunter  landed,  and  examined  the  thongs 
that  were  yet  fast  to  the  hounds,  his  countenance  sensibly 
changed,  and  he  shook  his  head  doubtingly. 

"  Here  has  been  a  knife  at  work,"  he  said :  "  this  skin 
was  never  torn,  nor  is  this  the  mark  of  a  hound's  tooth. 
No,  no;  Hector  is  not  in  fault,  as  I  feared." 

"  Has  the  leather  been  cut  ?  "  cried  Edwards. 

"No,  no— I  didn't  say  it  had  been  cut,  lad;  but  this  is 
a  mark  that  was  never  made  by  a  jump  or  a  bite." 

"  Could  that  rascally  carpenter  have  dared !  "  _ 

"Aye !  he  durst  to  do  anything  when  there  is  no  dan- 
ger," said  Natty:  "he  is  a  curious  body,  and  loves  to  be 
helping  other  people  on  with  their  consarns.  But  he  had 
best  not  harbor  so  much  near  the  wigwam! " 

In  the  meantime,  Mohegan  had  been  examining,  with 
an  Indian's  sagacity,  the  place  where  the  leather  thong  had 
been  separated.  After  scrutinizing  it  closely,  he  said,  in 
Delaware, — 

"It  was  cut  with  a  knife— a  sharp  blade  and  a  long 
handle;  the  man  was  afraid  of  the  dogs." 


THE  PIONEERS. 


279 


"  How  is  this,  Mohegan  ?  "  exclaimed  Edwards :  "  you 
saw  it  not!  how  can  you  know  these  facts  ?" 

"  Listen,  son,"  said  the  warrior.  "  The  knife  was  sharp, 
for  the  cut  is  smooth;  the  handle  was  long,  for  a  man's 
arm  would  not  reach  from  this  gash  to  the  cut  that  did 
not  go  through  the  skin:  he  was  a  coward,  or  he  would 
have  cut  the  thongs  around  the  neck  of  the  hounds." 

"On  my  life,"  cried  Natty,  "John  is  on  the  scent!  It 
was  the  carpenter;  and  he  has  got  on  the  rock  back  of  the 
kennel,  and  let  the  dogs  loose  by  fastening  his  knife  to  a 
stick.  It  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  do  it,  where  a  man 
is  so  minded." 

"And  why  should  he  do  so  ?  "  asked  Edwards :  "  who  has 
done  him  wrong,  that  he  should  trouble  two  old  men  like 
you?" 

"It's  a  hard  matter,  lad,  to  know  men's  ways,  I  find, 
since  the  settlers  have  brought  in  their  new  fashions.  But 
is  there  nothing  to  be  found  out  in  the  place  ?  and  maybe 
he  is  troubled  with  his  longings  after  other  people's  busi- 
ness, as  he  often  is." 

"  Your  suspicions  are  just.  Give  me  the  canoe :  I  am 
young  and  strong,  and  will  get  down  there  yet,  perhaps, 
in  time  to  interrupt  his  plans.  Heaven  forbid  that  we 
should  be  at  the  mercy  of  such  a  man !  " 

His  proposal  was  accepted,  the  deer  being  placed  in  the 
skiff  in  order  to  lighten  the  canoe,  and  in  less  than  five 
minutes  the  little  vessel  of  bark  was  gliding  over  the 
glassy  lake,  and  was  soon  hid  by  the  points  of  land,  as  it 
shot  close  along  the  shore. 

Mohegan  followed  slowly  with  the  skiif,  while  Natty 
called  his  hounds  to  him,  bade  them  keep  close,  and, 
shouldering  his  rifle,  he  ascended  the  mountain,  with  an 
intention  of  going  to  the  hut  by  land. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Ask  me  not  what  the  maiden  feels, 

Left  in  that  dreadful  hour  alone  ; 
Perchance,  her  reason  stoops,  or  reels  ; 

Perchance,  a  courage  not  her  own, 

Braces  her  mind  to  desperate  tone.  Scott. 

While  the  chase  was  occurring  on  the  lake,  Miss  Tem- 
ple and  her  companions  pursued  their  walk  on  the  moun- 


28o 


THE  PIONEERS. 


tains.  Male  attendants  on  such  excursions  were  thought 
to  be  altogether  unnecessary,  for  none  were  ever  known  to 
offer  an  insult  to  a  female,  who  respected  herself.  After 
the  embarrassment  created  by  the  parting  discourse  with 
Edwards  had  dissipated,  the  girls  maintained  a  conversa- 
tion that  was  as  innocent  and  cheerful  as  themselves. 

The  path  they  took  led  them  but  a  short  distance  above 
the  hut  of  Leather-Stocking,  and  there  was  a  point  in  the 
road  which  commanded  a  bird's-eye  view  of  the  sequestered 
spot. 

From  a  feeling  that  might  have  been  .natural,  and  must 
have  been  powerful,  neither  of  the  friends,  in  their  fre- 
quent and  confidential  dialogues,  had  ever  trusted  herself 
to  utter  one  syllable  concerning  the  equivocal  situation  in 
which  the  young  man  who  was  now  so  intimately  associ- 
ated with  them,  had  been  found.  If  Judge  Temple  had 
deemed  it  prudent  to  make  any  inquiries  on  the  subject, 
he  had  also  thought  it  proper  to  keep  the  answers  to  him- 
self; though  it  was  so  common  an  occurrence  to  find  the 
well-educated  youth  of  the  Eastern  States,  in  every  stage 
of  their  career  to  wealth,  that  the  simple  circumstance  of 
his  intelligence,  connected  with  his  poverty,  would  not,  at 
that  day,  and  in  that  country,  have  excited  any  very  pow- 
erful curiosity.  With  his  breeding,  it  might  have  been 
different ;  but  the  youth  himself  had  so  effectually  guarded 
against  surprise  on  this  subject,  by  his  cold,  and  even,  in 
some  cases,  rude  deportment,  that  when  his  manners 
seemed  to  soften  by  time,  the  Judge,  if  he  thought  about 
it  at  all,  would  have  been  most  likely  to  imagine  that  the 
improvement  was  the  result  of  his  late  association.  But 
women  are  always  more  alive  to  such  subjects  than  men; 
and  what  the  abstraction  of  the  father  had  overlooked, 
the  observation  of  the  daughter  had  easily  detected.  In 
the  thousand  little  courtesies  of  polished  life,  she  had  early 
discovered  that  Edwards  was  not  wanting,  though  his 
gentleness  was  so  often  crossed  by  marks  of  what  she  con- 
ceived to  be  fierce  and  uncontrollable  passions.  It  may, 
perhaps,  be  unnecessary  to  tell  the  reader  that  Louisa 
Grant  never  reasoned  so  much  after  the  fashions  of  the 
world.  The  gentle  girl,  however,  had  her  own  thoughts 
on  the  subject,  and,  like  others,  she  drew  her  own  conclu- 
sions. 

"  I  would  give  all  my  other  secrets,  Louisa/'  exclaimed 
Miss  Temple,  laughing,  and  shaking  back  her  dark  locks, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


with  a  look  of  childish  simplicity  that  her  intelligent  face 
seldom  expressed,  "  to  be  mistress  of  all  that  those  rude 
logs  have  heard  and  witnessed." 

They  were  both  looking  at  the  secluded  hut  at  the  in- 
stant, and  Miss  Grant  raised  her  mild  eyes  as  she 
answered, — 

"  I  am  sure  they  would  tell  nothing  to  the  disadvantage 
of  Mr.  Edwards." 

"Perhaps  not;  but  they  might,  at  least,  tell  who  he  is." 

"  Why,  dear  Miss  Temple,  we  know  all  that  already.  I 
have  heard  it  all  very  rationally  explained  by  your 
cousin  " — 

"The  executive  chief!  he  can  explain  anything.  His 
ingenuity  will  one  day  discover  the  philosopher's  stone. 
But  what  did  he  say  ?  " 

"  Say !  "  echoed  Louisa,  with  a  look  of  surprise ;  "  why, 
everything  that  seemed  to  me  to  be  satisfactory  and  I  have 
believed  it  to  be  true.  He  said  that  Natty  Bumppo  had 
lived  most  of  his  life  in  the  woods,  and  among  the  Indians, 
by  which  means  he  had  formed  an  acquaintance  with  old 
John,  the  Delaware  chief." 

"  Indeed !  that  was  quite  a  matter-of-fact  tale  for  cousin 
Dickon.    What  came  next  ?  " 

"  I  believe  he  accounted  for  their  close  intimacy,  by 
some  story  about  the  Leather-Stocking  saving  the  life  of 
John  in  a  battle." 

"Nothing  more  likely,"  said  Elizabeth,  a  little  im- 
patiently; "but  what  is  all  this  to  the  purpose ? " 

"  Nay,  Elizabeth,  you  must  bear  with  my  ignorance,  and 
I  will  repeat  all  that  I  remember  to  have  overheard ;  for 
the  dialogue  was  between  my  father  and  the  Sheriff,  so 
lately  as  the  last  time  they  met.  He  then  added,  that  the 
kings  of  England  used  to  keep  gentlemen  as  agents  among 
the  different  tribes  of  Indians,  and  sometimes  officers  in 
the  army,  who  frequently  passed  half  their  lives  on  the 
edge  of  the  wilderness." 

"  Told  with  wonderful  historical  accuracy !  And  did  he 
end  there  ?  " 

"  0 !  no ;  then  he  said  that  these  agents  seldom  married ; 
and — and — they  must  have  been  wicked  men,  Elizabeth! 
but  I  assure  you  he  said  so." 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Miss  Temple,  blushing  and  smiling, 
though  so  slightly,  that  both  were  unheeded  by  her  com- 
panion, "  skip  all  that," 


282 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  Well,  then,  he  said  that  they  often  took  great  pride 
in  the  education  of  their  children,  whom  they  frequently 
sent  to  England,  and  even  to  the  colleges;  and  this  is  the 
way  that  he  accounts  for  the  liberal  manner  in  which  Mr. 
Edwards  has  been  taught;  for  he  acknowledges  that  he 
knows  almost  as  much  as  your  father — or  mine — or  even 
himself." 

"  Quite  a  climax  in  learning!  And  so  he  made  Mohegan 
the  grand  uncle,  or  grandfather  of  Oliver  Edwards." 

"  You  have  heard  him  yourself,  then  ?  "  said  Louisa. 

"Often;  but  not  on  this  subject.  Mr  Richard  Jones, 
you  know,  dear,  has  a  theory  for  everything;  but  has  he 
one  which  will  explain  the  reason  why  that  hut  is  the  only 
habitation  within  fifty  miles  of  us,  whose  door  is  not  open 
to  every  person  who  may  choose  to  lift  its  latch  ?  " 

"  I  have  never  heard  him  say  anything  on  this  subject/' 
returned  the  clergyman's  daughter;  "but  I  suppose  that, 
as  they  are  poor,  they  very  naturally  are  anxious  to  keep 
the  little  that  they  honestly  own.  It  is  sometimes  dan- 
gerous to  be  rich,  Miss  Temple ;  but  you  cannot  know  how 
hard  it  is  to  be  very,  very  poor." 

"Nor  you,  I  trust,  Louisa;  at  least  I  should  hope  that,  in 
this  land  of  abundance,  no  minister  of  the  Church  could 
be  left  to  absolute  suffering." 

"There  cannot  be  actual  misery,"  returned  the  other,  in 
a  low  and  humble  tone,  "  where  there  is  a  dependence  on 
our  Maker ;  but  there  may  be  such  suffering  as  will  cause 
the  heart  to  ache." 

"But  not  you — not  you,"  said  the  impetuous  Elizabeth; 
"not  you,  dear  girl:  you  have  never  known  the  misery 
that  is  connected  with  poverty." 

"Ah!  Miss  Temple,  you  little  understand  the  troubles  of 
this  life,  I  believe.  My  father  has  spent  many  years  as  a 
missionary  in  the  new  countries,  where  his  people  were 
poor,  and  frequently  we  have  been  without  bread ;  unable 
to  buy,  and  ashamed  to  beg,  because  we  would  not  disgrace 
his  sacred  calling.  But  how  often  have  I  seen  him  leave 
his  home,  where  the  sick  and  the  hungry  felt,  when  he 
left  them,  that  they  had  lost  their  only  earthly  friend,  to 
ride  on  a  duty  which  could  not  be  neglected  for  domestic 
evils.  0 !  how  hard  it  must  be  to  preach  consolation  to 
others,  when  your  own  heart  is  bursting  with  anguish ! " 

"But  it  is  all  over  now!  your  father's  income  must 
now  be  equal  to  his  wants— it  must  be — it  shall  be" — 


THE  PIONEERS. 


283 


« It  is,"  replied  Louisa,  dropping  her  head  on  her  bosom, 
to  conceal  the  tears  which  ilowcd  in  spite  of  her  gentle 
Christianity,  "  for  there  are  none  left  to  be  supplied  but 
me." 

The  turn  the  conversation  had  taken  drove  from  the 
minds  of  the  young  maidens  all  other  thoughts  but  those 
of  holy  charity;  and  Elizabeth  folded  her  friend  in  her 
arms,  when  the  latter  gave  vent  to  her  momentary  grief  in 
audible  sobs.  When  this  burst  of  emotion  had  subsided, 
Louisa  raised  her  mild  countenance,  and  they  continued 
their  walk  in  silence. 

By  this  time  they  had  gained  the  summit  of  the  moun- 
tain, where  they  left  the  highway,  and  pursued  their  course 
under  the  shade  of  the  stately  trees  that  crowned  the 
eminence.  The  day  was  becoming  warm,  and  the  girls 
plunged  more  deeply  into  the  forest,  as  they  found  its  in- 
vigorating coolness  agreeably  contrasted  to  the  excessive 
heat  they  had  experienced  in  the  ascent.  The  conversa- 
tion, as  if  by  mutual  consent,  was  entirely  changed  to  the 
little  incidents  and  scenes  of  their  walk,  and  every  tall 
pine,  and  every  shrub  or  flower,  called  forth  some  simple 
expression  of  admiration. 

In  this  manner  they  proceeded  along  the  margin  of  the 
precipice,  catching  occasional  glimpses  of  the  placid 
Otsego,  or  pausing  to  listen, to  the  rattling  of  wheels  and 
the  sounds  of  hammers,  that  rose  from  the  valley,  to 
mingle  the  signs  of  men  with  the  scenes  of  nature,  when 
Elizabeth  suddenly  started,  and  exclaimed— 

"  Listen !  there  are  the  cries  of  a  child  on  this  mountain ! 
is  there  a  clearing  near  us  ?  or  can  some  little  one  have 
strayed  from  its  parents  ?  'J 

"Such  things  frequently  happen,"  returned  Louisa. 
«  Let  us  follow  the  sound :  it  may  be  a  wanderer  starving 
on  the  hill."  •  "" 

Urged  by  this  consideration,  the  females  pursued  the 
low,  mournful  sounds,  that  proceeded  from  the  forest, 
with  quick  and  impatient  steps.  More  than  once  the 
ardent  Elizabeth  was  on  the  point  of  announcing  that  she 
saw  the  sufferer,  when  Louisa  caught  her  by  the  arm,  and 
pointing  behind  them,  cried,— 

"Look  at  the  dog!" 

Brave  had  been  their  companion,  from  the  time  the 
voice  of  his  young  mistress  lured  him  from  his  kennel, 
to  the  present  moment.    His  advanced  age  had  long 


284 


THE  PIONEERS. 


before  deprived  him  of  his  activity;  and  when  his  com- 
panions stopped  to  view  the  scenery,  or  to  add  to  their 
bouquets,  the  mastiff  would  lay  his  huge  frame  on  the 
ground,  and  await  their  movements,  with  his  eyes  closed, 
and  a  listlessness  in  his  air  that  ill  accorded  with  the  char- 
acter of  a  protector.  But  when,  aroused  by  this  cry  from 
Louisa,  Miss  Temple  turned,  she  saw  the  dog  with  his  eyes 
keenly  set  on  some  distant  object,  his  head  bent  near  the 
ground,  and  his  hair  actually  rising  on  his  body,  through 
fright  or  anger.  It  was  most  probably  the  latter,  for  he 
was  growling  in  a  low  key,  and  occasionally  showing  his 
teeth,  in  a  manner  that  would  have  terrified  his  mistress, 
had  she  not  so  well  known  his  good  qualities. 

"  Brave ! "  she  said,  "  be  quiet,  Brave !  what  do  you  see, 
fellow  ?  " 

At  the  sounds  of  her  voice,  the  rage  of  the  mastiff,  in- 
stead of  being  at  all  diminished,  was  very  sensibly  in- 
creased. He  stalked  in  front  of  the  ladies,  and  seated 
himself  at  the  feet  of  his  mistress,  growling  louder  than 
before,  and  occasionally  giving  vent  to  his  ire,  by  a  short, 
surly  barking. 

"  What  does  he  see  ?  "  said  Elizabeth :  "  there  must  be 
some  animal  in  sight." 

Hearing  no  answer  from  her  companion,  Miss  Temple 
turned  her  head,  and  beheld  Louisa,  standing  with  her 
face  whitened  to  the  color  of  death,  and  her  finger  point- 
ing upwards,  with  a  sort  of  flickering,  convulsed  motion. 
The  quick  eye  of  Elizabeth  glanced  in  the  direction  indi- 
cated by  her  friend,  where  she  saw  the  fierce  front  and 
glaring  eyes  of  a  female  panther,  fixed  on  them  in  horrid 
malignity,  and  threatening  to  leap. 

"  Let  us  fly ! "  exclaimed  Elizabeth,  grasping  the  arm  of 
Louisa,  whose  form  yielded  like  melting  snow. 

There  was  not  a  single  feeling  in  the  temperament  of 
Elizabeth  that  could  prompt  her  to  desert  a  companion  in 
such  an  extremity.  She  fell  on  her  knees,  by  the  side  of 
the  inanimate  Louisa,  tearing  from  the  person  of  her 
friend,  with  instinctive  readiness,  such  parts  of  her  dress 
as  might  obstruct  her  respiration,  and  encouraging  their 
only  safeguard,  the  dog,  at  the  same  time,  by  the  sounds 
of  her  voice. 

"Courage,  Brave!"  she  cried,  her  own  tones  beginning 
to  tremble,  "courage,  courage,  good  Brave!" 

A  quarter-grown  cub,  that  had  hitherto  been  unseen, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


285 


now  appeared,  dropping  from  the  branches  of  a  sapling 
that  grew  under  the  shade  of  the  beech  which  held  its 
dam.  This  ignorant,  but  vicious  creature,  approached  the 
dog,  imitating  the  actions  and  sounds  of  its  parent,  but 
exhibiting  a  strange  mixture  of  the  playfulness  of  a  kitten 
with  the  ferocity  of  its  race.  Standing  on  its  hind  legs, 
it  would  rend  the  bark  of  a  tree  with  its  fore  paws,  and 
play  the  antics  of  a  cat;  and  then,  by  lashing  itself  with 
its  tail,  growling,  and  scratching  the  earth,  it  would  at- 
tempt the  manifestations  of  anger  that  rendered  its  parent 
so  terrific. 

All  this  time  Brave  stood  firm  and  undaunted,  his  short 
tail  erect,  his  body  drawn  backward  on  its  haunches,  and 
his  eyes  following  the  movements  of  both  dam  and  cub. 
At  every  gambol  played  by  the  latter,  it  approached  nigher 
to  the  dog,  the  growling  of  the  three  becoming  more  hor- 
rid at  each  moment,  until  the  younger  beast,  overleaping 
its  intended  bound,  fell  directly  before  the  mastiff.  There 
was  a  moment. of  fearful  cries  and  struggles,  but  they 
ended  almost  as  soon  as  commenced,  by  the  cub  appearing 
in  the  air,  hurled  from  the  jaws  of  Brave,  with  a  violence 
that  sent  it  against  a  tree  so  forcibly  as  to  render  it  com- 
pletely senseless. 

Elizabeth  witnessed  the  short  struggle,  and  her  blood 
w:is  warming  with  the  triumph  of  the  dog,  when  she  saw 
the  form  of  the  old  panther  in  the  air,  springing  twenty 
feet  from  the  branch  of  the  beech  to  the  back  of  the  mas- 
tiff. No  words  of  ours  can  describe  the  fury  of  the  con- 
flict that  followed.  It  was  a  confused  struggle  on  the  dry 
leaves,  accompanied  by  loud  and  terrific  cries.  Miss  Tem- 
ple continued  on  her  knees,  bending  over  the  form  of 
Louisa,  her  eyes  fixed  on  the  animals,  with  an  interest  so 
horrid  and  yet  so  intense,  that  she  almost  forgot  her  own 
stake  in  the  result.  So  rapid  and  vigorous  were  the 
bounds  of  the  inhabitant  of  the  forest,  that  its  active 
frame  seemed  constantly  in  the  air,  while  the  dog  nobly 
faced  his  foe  at  each  successive  leap.  When  the  panther 
lighted  on  the  shoulders  of  the  mastiff,  which  was  its  con- 
stant aim,  old  Brave,  though  torn  with  her  talons,  and 
stained  with  his  own  blood,  that  already  flowed  from  a 
dozen  wounds,  would  shake  off  his  furious  foe  like  a 
feather,  and  rearing  on  his  hind  legs,  rush  to  the  fray 
again,  with  jaws  distended,  and  a  dauntless  eye.  But  age, 
and  his  pampered  life,  greatly  disqualified  the  noble  mas- 


286 


THE  PIONEERS. 


tiff  for  such  a  struggle.  In  everything  but  courage,  he 
was  only  the  vestige  of  what  he  had  once  been.  A  higher 
bound  than  ever  raised  the  wary  and  furious  beast  far  be- 
yond the  reach  of  the  dog,  who  was  making  a  desperate  but 
fruitless  dash  at  her,  from  which  she  alighted  in  a  favora- 
ble position,  on  the  back  of  her  aged  foe.  For  a  single 
moment  only  could  the  panther  remain  there,  the  great 
strength  of  the  dog  returning  with  a  convulsive  effort. 
But  Elizabeth  saw,  as  Brave  fastened  his  teeth  in  the  side 
of  his  enemy,  that  the  collar  of  brass  around  his  neck, 
which  had  been  glittering  throughout  the  fray,  was  of  the 
color  of  blood,  and  directly,  that  his  frame  was  sinking  to 
the  earth,  where  it  soon  lay  prostrate  and  helpless.  Sev- 
eral mighty  efforts  of  the  wild-cat  to  extricate  herself  from 
the  jaws  of  the  dog  followed,  bat  they  were  fruitless,  until 
the  mastiff  turned  on  his  back,  his  lips  collapsed,  and  his 
teeth  loosened,  when  the  short  convulsions  and  stillness 
that  succeeded,  announced  the  death  of  poor  Brave. 

Elizabeth  now  lay  wholly  at  the  mercy  of  the  beast. 
There  is  said  to  be  something  in  the  front  of  the  image  of 
the  Maker  that  daunts  the  hearts  of  the  inferior  beings  of 
his  creation;  and  it  would  seem  that  some  such  power,  in 
the  present  instance,  suspended  the  threatened  blow.  The 
eyes  of  the  monster  and  the  kneeling  maiden  met  for  an 
instant,  when  the  former  stooped  to  examine  her  fallen 
foe;  next  to  scent  her  luckless  cub.  From  the  latter  ex- 
amination, it  turned,  however,  with  its  eyes  apparently 
emitting  flashes  of  fire,  its  tail  lashing  its  sides  furiously, 
and  its  claws  projecting  inches  from  her  broad  feet. 

Miss  Temple  did  not  or  could  not  move.  Her  hands 
were  clasped  in  the  attitude  of  prayer,  but  her  eyes  were 
still  drawn  to  her  terrible  enemy;  her  cheeks  were 
blanched  to  the  whiteness  of  marble,  and  her  lips  were 
slightly  separated  with  horror. 

The  moment  seemed  now  to  have  arrived  for  the  fatal 
termination,  and  the  beautiful  figure  of  Elizabeth  was 
bowing  meekly  to  the  stroke,  when  a  rustling  of  leaves 
behind  seemed  rather  to  mock  the  organs  than  to  meet 
her  ears. 

"Hist!  hist!"  said  a  low  voice,  "stoop  lower,  gal;  your 
bonnet  hides  the  creaturs  head." 

It  was  rather  the  yielding  of  nature  than  a  compliance 
with  this  unexpected  order,  that  caused  the  head  of  our 
heroine  to  sink  on  her  bosom ;  when  she  heard  the  report 


THE  PIONEERS. 


287 


of  the  rifle,  the  whizzing  of  the  bullet,  and  the  enraged 
cries  of  the  beast,  who  was  rolling  over  on  the  earth,  biting 
its  own  flesh,  and  tearing  the  twigs  and  branches  within 
its  reach.  At  the  next  instant  the  form  of  the  Leather- 
Stocking  rushed  by  her,  and  he  called  aloud, — 

"Come  in,  Hector,  come  in,  old  fool;  'tis  a  hard-lived 
animal,  wild  may  jump  ag'in." 

Natty  fearlessly  maintained  his  position  in  front  of  the 
females,  notwithstanding  the  violent  bounds  and  threaten- 
ing aspect  of  the  wounded  panther,  which  gave  several  in- 
dications of  returning  strength  and  ferocity,  until  his  rifle 
was  again  loaded,  when  he  stepped  up  to  the  enraged 
animal,  and  placing  the  muzzle  close  to  its  head,  every 
spark  of  life  was  extinguished  by  the  discharge. 

The  death  of  her  terrible  enemy  appeared  to  Elizabeth 
like  a  resurrection  from  her  own  grave.  There  was  an 
elasticity  in  the  mind  of  our  heroine  that  rose  to  meet  the 
pressure  of  instant  danger,  and  the  more  direct  it  had 
been,  the  more  her  nature  had  struggled  to  overcome  it. 
But  still  she  was  a  woman.  Had  she  been  left  to  herself 
in  her  late  "extremity,  she  would  probably  have  used  her 
faculties  to  the  utmost,  and  with  discretion,  in  protecting 
her  person;  but  encumbered  with  her  inanimate  friend, 
retreat  was  a  thing  not  to  be  attempted.  Notwithstanding 
the  fearful  aspect  of  her  foe,  the  eye  of  Elizabeth  had 
never  shrunk  from  its  gaze,  and  long  after  the  event  her 
thoughts  would  recur  to  her  passing  sensations,  and  the 
sweetness  of  her  midnight  sleep  would  be  disturbed,  as  her 
active  fancy  conjured,  in  dreams,  the  most  trifling  move- 
ments of  savage  fury  that  the  beast  had  exhibited  in  its 
moment  of  power. 

We  shall  leave  the  reader  to  imagine  the  restoration  of 
Louisa's  senses,  and  the  expressions  of  gratitude  which  fell 
from  the  young  women.  The  former  was  elfected  by  a 
little  water,  that  was  brought  from  one  of  the  thousand 
springs  of  those  mountains,  in  the  cap  of  the  Leather- 
Stocking;  and  the  latter  were  uttered  with  the  warmth 
that  might  be  expected  from  the  character  of  Elizabeth. 
Natty  received  her  vehement  protestations  of  gratitude 
with  a  simple  expression  of  good-will,  and  with  indulgence 
for  her  present  excitement,  but  with  a  carelessness  that 
showed  how  little  he  thought  of  the  service  he  had  ren- 
dered. 

"Well,  well,"  he  said,  "be  it  so,  gal;  let  it  be  so,  if  you 


288 


THE  PIONEERS. 


wish  it — well  talk  the  thing  over  another  time.  Come, 
come;  let  us  get  into  the  road,  for  you've  had  terror 
enough  to  make  you  wish  yourself  in  your  father's  house 
ag'in/' 

This  was  uttered  as  they  were  proceeding,  at  a  pace  that 
was  adapted  to  the  weakness  of  Louisa,  towards  the  high- 
way :  on  reaching  which,  the  ladies  separated  from  their 
guide,  declaring  themselves  equal  to  the  remainder  of  the 
walk  without  his  assistance,  and  feeling  encouraged  by 
the  sight  of  the  village,  which  lay  beneath  their  feet  like  a 
picture,  with  its  limpid  lake  in  front,  the  winding  stream 
along  its  margin,  and  its  hundred  chimneys  of  whitened 
bricks. 

The  reader  need  not  be  told  the  nature  of  the  emo- 
tions which  two  youthful,  ingenuous,  and  well-educated 
girls  would  experience  at  their  escape  from  a  death  so  hor- 
rid as  the  one  which  had  impended  over  them,  while  they 
pursued  their  way  in  silence  along  the  track  on  the  side  of 
the  mountain ;  nor  how  deep  were  their  mental  thanks  to 
that  Power  which  had  given  them  their  existence,  and 
which  had  not  deserted  them  in  their  extremity;  neither 
how  often  they  pressed  each  other's  arms,  as  the  assurance 
of  their  present  safety  came  like  a  healing  balm  athwart 
their  troubled  spirits,  when  their  thoughts  were  recurring 
to  the  recent  moments  of  horror. 

Leather-Stocking  remained  on  the  hill,  gazing  after 
their  retiring  figures,  until  they  were  hidden  by  a  bend  in 
the  road,  when  he  whistled  in  his  dogs,  and  shouldering 
his  rifle,  he  returned  into  the  forest. 

"  Well,  it  was  a  skeary  thing  to  the  young  creaturs," 
said  Natty,  while  he  retrod  the  path  towards  the  plain. 
"  It  might  frighten  an  older  woman,  to  see  a  she  painter 
so  near  her,  with  a  dead  cub  by  its  side.  I  wonder  if  I 
had  aimed  at  the  varmint's  eye,  if  I  shouldn't  have  touched 
the  life  sooner  than  in  the  forehead ;  but  they  are  hard- 
lived  animals,  and  it  was  a  good  shot,  consid'ring  that  I 
could  see  nothing  but  the  head  and  the  peak  of  its  tail. 
Ha !  who  goes  there  ? 

*  How  goes  it,  Natty  ?  "  said  Mr.  Doolittle,  stepping  out 
of  the  bushes,  with  a  motion  that  was  a  good  deal  acceler- 
ated by  the  sight  of  the  rifle,  that  was  already  lowered  in 
his  direction.  "What!  shooting  this  warm  day!  mind, 
old  man,  the  law  don't  get  hold  on  you." 

"The  law.  squire!    I  have  shook  hands  with  the  law 


THE  PIONEERS. 


289 


these  forty  year,"  returned  Natty;  "for  what  has  a  man 
who  lives  in  the  wilderness  to  do  with  the  ways  of  the 
law  ?  " 

"Not  much,  maybe,"  said  Hiram;  "but  you  sometimes 
trade  in  venison.  I  s'pose  you  know,  Leather-Stocking, 
that  there  is  an  act  passed  to  lay  a  fine  of  five  pounds  cur- 
rency, or  twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents,  by  decimals,  on 
every  man  who  kills  a  deer  betwixt  January  and  August. 
The  Judge  had  a  great  hand  in  getting  the  law  through." 

"I  can  believe  it,"  returned  the  old  hunter;  "I  can  be- 
lieve that  or  any  thing,  of  a  man  who  carries  on  as  he  does 
in  the  country." 

"Yes,  the  law  is  quite  positive,  and  the  Judge  is  bent 
on  putting  it  in  force — five  pounds  penalty.  I  thought  I 
heard  your  hounds  out  on  the  scent  of  so'thing  this  morn- 
ing; I  didn't  know  hut  they  might  get  you  in  difficulty." 

"  They  know  their  manners  too  well,"  said  Natty,  care- 
lessly. "And  how  much  goes  to  the  State's  evidence, 
squire  ?  " 

"  How  much ! "  repeated  Hiram,  quailing  under  the 
honest  but  sharp  look  of  the  hunter :  "  the  informer  gets 
half,  I — I  believe ;  yes,  I  guess  it's  half.  But  there's  blood 
on  your  sleeve,  man;  you  haven't  been  shooting  anything 
this  morning  ?  " 

"  I  have,  though,"  said  the  hunter,  nodding  his  head 
significantly  to  the  other,  "  and  a  good  shot  I  made  of  it." 

"  H-e-m ! "  ejaculated  the  magistrate ;  "  and  where  is 
the  game  ?  •  I  s'pose  it's  of  a  good  natur',  for  your  dogs 
won't  hunt  at  anything  that  isn't  choice." 

"They'll  hunt  anything  I  tell  them  to,  squire,"  cried 
Natty,  favoring  the  other  with  his  laugh.  .  "  They'll  hunt 
you,  if  I  say  so.  He-e-e-re,  he-e-e-re,  Hector — he-e-e-re, 
slut  —  come  this-away,  pups  —  come  this-away  —  come 
hither." 

"0!  I  have  always  heard  a  good  character  of  the  dogs," 
returned  Mr.  Doolittle,  quickening  his  pace  by  raising 
each  leg  in  rapid  succession,  as  the  hounds  scented  around 
his  person.    "And  where  is  the  game,  Leather-Stocking  ?  " 

During  this  dialogue,  the  speakers  had  been  walking  at 
a  very  fast  gait,  and  Natty  swung  the  end  of  his  rifle 
round,  pointing  through  the  bushes,  and  replied, — 

"  There  lies  one.    How  do  you  like  such  meat  ?  " 

"  This ! "  exclaimed  Hiram ;  "  why  this  is  Judge  Tem- 
ple's dog  Brave.  Take  care,  Leather-Stocking,  and  don't 
10 


290 


THE  PIONEERS. 


make  an  enemy  of  the  Judge.  I  hope  you  haven't  harmed 
the  animal  ?  " 

"  Look  for  yourself,  Mr.  Doolittle,"  said  Natty,  drawing 
his  knife  from  his  girdle,  and  wiping  it,  in  a  knowing 
manner,  once  or  twice  across  his  garment  of  buckskin; 
"  does  his  throat  look  as  if  I  had  cut  it  with  this  knife  ?  " 

"  It  is  dreadfully  torn !  it's  an  awful  wound — no  knife 
never  did  this  deed.    Who  could  have  done  it  ?  " 

"The  painter's  behind  you,  squire." 

"  Painters ! "  echoed  Hiram,  whirling  on  his  heel  with 
an  agility  that  would  have  done  credit  to  a  dancing-master. 

"Be  easy,  man,"  said  Natty;  "there's  two  of  the  veno- 
mous things;  but  the  dog  finished  one,  and  I  have  fast- 
ened, the  other's  jaws  for  her;  so  don't  be  frightened, 
squire,  they  won't  hurt  you." 

"And  where's  the  deer?"  cried  Hiram,  staring  about 
him  with  a  bewildered  air. 

"Anan !  deer !  "  repeated  Natty. 

"  Sartain,  ain't  there  venison  here,  or  didn't  you  kill  a 
buck?" 

"What!  when  the  law  forbids  the  thing,  squire!  "  said 
the  old  hunter.  "  I  hope  there's  no  law  ag'in  killing  the 
painters." 

"No;  there's  a  bounty  on  the  scalps;  but — will  your 
dogs  hunt  painters,  Natty  ?  " 

"Anything ;  didn't  I  tell  you  they'd  hunt  a  man  ?  He-e-re, 
he-e-re,  pups  " — 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  remember.  Well,  they  are  strange  dogs,  I 
must  say — I  am  quite  in  a  wonderment." 

Natty  had  seated  himself  on  the  ground,  and  having 
laid  the  grim  head  of  his  late  ferocious  enemy  in  his  lap, 
was  drawing  his  knife  with  a  practiced  hand  around  the 
ears,  which  he  tore  from  the. head  of  the  beast  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  preserve  their  connection,  when  he  an- 
swered,— 

"  What  at,  squire  ?  did  you  never  see  a  painter's  scalp 
afore?  Come,  you  are  a  magistrate,  I  wish  you'd  make 
me  out  an  order  for  the  bounty." 

"The  bounty!"  repeated  Hiram,  holding  the  ears  on 
the  end  of  his  finger,  for  a  moment,  as  if  uncertain  how 
to  proceed.  "Well,  let  us  go  down  to  your  hut,  where 
you  can  take  the  oath,  and  I  will  write  out  the  order.  I 
suppose  you  have  a  Bible  ?  all  the  law  wants  is  the  four 
evangelists  and  the  Lord's  prayer." 


THE  PIONEERS. 


291 


"I  keep  no  books,"  said  Natty,  a  little  coldly:  "not 
such  a  Bible  as  the  law  needs." 

"  0 !  there's  but  one  sort  of  Bible  that's  good  in  law," 
returned  the  magistrate:  "and  your'n  will  do  as  well  as 
another's.  Come,  the  carcasses  are  worth  nothing,  man; 
let  us  go  down  and  take  the  oath." 

"Softly,  softly,  squire,"  said  the  hunter,  lifting  his 
trophies  very  deliberately  from  the  ground,  and  shoulder- 
ing his  rifle;  "why  do  you  want  an  oath  at  all,  for  a  thing 
that  your  own  eyes  has  seen  ?  won't  you  believe  yourself, 
that  another  man  must  swear  to.  a  fact  that  you  know  to 
be  true  ?  You  have  seen*  me  scalp  the  crenturs,  and  if  I 
must  swear  to  it,  it  shall  be  before  Judge  Temple,  who 
needs  an  oath." 

"But  we  have  no  pen  or  paper  here,  Leather-Stocking; 
we  must  go  to  the  hut  for  them,  or  how  can  I  write  the 
order." 

Natty  turned  his  simple  features  on  the  cunning  magis- 
trate with  another  of  his  laughs,  as  he  said, — 

"And  what  should  I  be  doing  with  scholars'  tools  ?  I 
want  no  pens  or  paper,  not  knowing  the  use  of  either; 
and  I  keep  none.  No,  no,  I'll  bring  the  scalps  into  the 
village,  squire,  and  you  can  make  out  the  order  on  one  of 
your  law-books,  and  it  will  be  all  the  better  for  it.  The 
deuce  take  this  leather  on  the  neck  of  the  dog,  it  will 
strangle  the  old  fool.    Can  you  lend  me  a  knife,  squire  ?  " 

Hiram,  who  seemed  particularly  anxious  to  be  on  good 
terms  with  his  companion,  unhesitatingly  complied. 
Natty  cut  the  thong  from  the  neck  of  the  hound,  and,  as 
he  returned  the  knife  to  its  owner,  carelessly  remarked, — 

"'Tisagood  bit  of  steel,  and  has  cut  such  leather  as 
this  very  same,  before  now,  I  dare  say." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  charge  me  with  letting  your  hounds 
loose  ?  "  exclaimed  Hiram,  with  a  consciousness  that  dis- 
armed his  caution. 

"  Loose ! "  repeated  the  hunter,  "  I  let  them  loose  myself. 
I  always  let  them  loose  before  I  leave  the  hut." 

The  ungovernable  amazement  with  which  Mr.  Doolittle 
listened  to  this  falsehood,  would  have  betrayed  his  agency 
in  the  liberation  of  the  dogs,  had  Natty  wanted  any  further 
confirmation;  and  the  coolness  and  manngement  of  the 
old  man  now  disappeared  in  open  indignation. 

"  Look  you  here,  Mr.  Doolittle,"  he  said,  striking  the 
breech  of  his  rifle  violently  on  the  ground ;  "  what  there  i$ 


292 


the  pioneers. 


in  the  wigwam  of  a  poor  man  like  me,  that  one  like  you 
can  crave,  I  don't  know ;  but  this  I  tell  you  to  your  face, 
that  you  never  shall  put  foot  under  the  roof  of  my  cabin 
with  my  consent,  and  that  if  you  harbor  round  the  spot 
as  you  have  done  lately,  you  may  meet  with  treatment 
that  you  will  little  relish." 

"And  let  me  tell  you,  Mr.  Bumppo,"  said  Hiram,  re- 
treating, however,  with  a  quick  step,  "  that  I  know  you've 
broke  the  law,  and  that  Fm  a  magistrate,  and  will  make 
you  feel  it  too,  before  you  are  a  day  older." 

"  That  for  you  and  your  law  too,"  cried  Natty,  snapping 
his  fingers  at  the  justice  of  the,  peace:  "away  with  you, 
you  varmint,  before  the  devil  tempts  me  to  give  you  your 
desarts.  Take  care,  if  I  ever  catch  your  prowling  face  in 
the  woods  ag'in,  that  I  don't  shoot  it  for  an  owl. " 

There  is  something  at  all  times  commanding  in  honest 
indignation,  and  Hiram  did  not  stay  to  provoke  the  wrath 
of  the  old  hunter  to  extremities.  When  the  intruder  was 
out  of  sight,  Natty  proceeded  to  the  hut,  where  he  found 
all  quiet  as  the  grave.  He  fastened  his  dogs,  and  tapping 
at  the-  door,  which  was  opened  by  Edwards,  asked, — 

"Is  all  safe,  lad!" 

"Everything,"  returned  the  youth.  "Some  one  at- 
tempted the  lock,  but  it  was  too  strong  for  him." 

"  I  know  the  creatur',"  said  Natty,  "  but  he'll  not  trust 
himself  within  reach  of  my  rifle  very  soon  " —  What  more 
was  uttered  by  the  Leather-Stocking,  in  his  vexation,  was 
rendered  inaudible  by  the  closing  of  the  door  of  the  cabin. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

It  is  noised,  he  hath  a  mass  of  treasure. 

Timon  of  Athens. 

When"  Marmaduke  Temple  and  his  cousin  rode  through 
the  gate  of  the  former,  the  heart  of  the  father  had  been 
too  recently  touched  with  the  best  feelings  of  our  nature, 
to  leave  inclination  for  immediate  discourse.  There  was 
an  importance  in  the  air  of  Richard,  which  would  not  have 
admitted  of  the  ordinary  informal  conversation  of  the 
Sheriff,  without  violating  all  the  rules  of  consistency;  and 
the  equestrians  pursued  their  way  with  great  diligence,  for 
more  than  a  mile,  in  profound  silence.    At  length  the  soft 


THE  PIONEERS. 


293 


expression  of  parental  affection  was  slowly  chased  from  the 
handsome  features  of  the  Judge,  and  was  gradually  sup 
planted  by  the  cast  of  humor  and  benevolence  that  was 
usually  seated  on  his  brow. 

"Well,  Dickon,"  he  said,  "since  I  have  yielded  myself 
so  far  implicitly  to  your  guidance,  I  think  the  moment 
has  arrived  when  I  am  entitled  to  further  confidence. 
Why  and  wherefore  are  we  journeying  together  in  this 
solemn  gait  ?  " 

The  Sheriff  gave  a  loud  hem,  that  rang  far  in  the  forest, 
and  keeping  his  eyes  fixed  on  objects  before  him,  like  a 
man  who  is  looking  deep  into  futurity, — 

"  There  has  always  been  one  point  of  difference  between 
us,  Judge  Temple,  I  may  say,  since  our  nativity,"  he  re- 
plied ;  "  not  that  I  would  insinuate  that  you  are  at  all  an- 
swerable for  the  acts  of  nature;  for  a  man  is  no  more  to 
be  condemned  for  the  misfortunes  of  his  birth,  than  he  is 
to  be  commended  for  the  natural  advantages  he  may  pos- 
sess ;  but  on  one  point  we  may  be  said  to  have  differed 
from  our  births,  and  they,  you  know,  occurred  within  two 
days  of  each  other." 

"I  really  marvel,  Richard,  what  this  one  point  can  be; 
for,  to  my  eyes,  we  seem  to  differ  so  materially,  and  so 
often  "— 

" Mere  consequences,  sir,"  interrupted  the  Sheriff;  "all 
our  minor  differences  proceed  from  one  cause,  and  that  is, 
our  opinions  of  the  universal  attainments  of  genius." 

"In  what,  Dickon?" 

"I  speak  plain  English,  I  believe,  Judge  Temple;  at 
least  I  ought;  for  my  father,  who  taught  me,  could 
speak  " — 

"  Greek  and  Latin,"  interrupted  Marmaduke.  "  I  well 
know  the  qualifications  of  your  family  in  tongues,  Dickon. 
But  proceed  to  the  point;  why  are  we  traveling  over  this 
mountain  to-day  ?  " 

"  To  do  justice  to  any  subject,  sir,  the  narrator  must  be 
suffered  to  proceed  in  his  own  way,"  continued  the  Sheriff. 
"  You  are  of  opinion,  Judge  Temple,  that  a  man  is  to  be 
qualified  by  nature  and  education  to  do  only  one  thing 
well,  whereas  I  know  that  genius  will  supply  the  place  of 
learning,  and  that  a  certain  sort  of  man  can  do  anything 
and  everything." 

"  Like  yourself,  I  suppose,"  said  Marmaduke,  smiling. 

"I  scorn  personalities,  sir;  I  say  nothing  of  myself;  but 


294 


THE  PIONEERS. 


there  are  three  men  on  your  Patent,  of  the  kind  that  I 
should  term  talented  by  nature  for  her  general  purposes, 
though  acting  under  the  influence  of  different  situations." 

"  We  are  better  off,  then,  than  I  had  supposed.  Who 
are  these  triumviri  ?  " 

"  Why,  sir,  one  is  Hiram  Doolittle ;  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
as  you  know, — and  I  need  only  point  to  the  village  to  ex- 
hibit his  merits.  Then  he  is  a  magistrate,  and  might 
shame  many  a  man,  in  his  distribution  of  justice,  who  has 
had  better  opportunities." 

"Well,  he  is  one,"  said  Marmaduke,  with  the  air  of  a 
man  that  was  determined  not  to  dispute  the  point. 

"  Jotham  Riddel  is  another," 

"Who?" 

"Jotham  Riddel." 

"  What !  that  dissatisfied,  shiftless,  lazy,  speculating  fel- 
low! he  who  changes  his  county  every  three  years,  his 
farm  every  six  months,  and  his  occupation  every  season; 
an  agriculturist  yesterday,  a  shoemaker  to-day,  and  a 
schoolmaster  to-morrow  ?  that  epitome  of  all  the  unsteady 
and  profitless  propensities  of  the  settlers  without  one  of 
their  good  qualities  to  counterbalance  the  evil!  Nay, 
Richard,  this  is  too  bad  for  even — but  the  third  ?" 

"As  the  third  is  not  used  to  hearing  such  comments  on 
his  character,  Judge  Temple,  I  shall  not  name  him." 

"The  amount  of  all  this,  then,  Dickon,  is,  that  the  trio, 
of  which  you  are  one,  and  the  principal,  have  made  some 
important  discovery." 

"  I  have  not  said  that  I  am  one,  Judge  Temple.  As  I 
told  you  before,  I  say  nothing  egotistical.  But  a  discovery 
has  been  made,  and  you  are  deeply  interested  in  it." 

"  Proceed — I  am  all  ears." 

"  No,  no,  'Duke,  you  are  bad  enough,  I  own,  but  not  so 
bad  as  that  either;  your  ears  are  not  quite  full  grown." 

The  Sheriff  laughed  heartily  at  his  own  wit,  and  put 
himself  in  good  humor  thereby,  when  he  gratified  his 
patient  cousin  with  the  following  explanation : — 

"You  know,  'Duke,  there  is  a  man  living  on  your  estate 
that  goes  by  the  name  of  Natty  Bumppo.  Here  has  this 
man  lived,  by  what  1  can  learn,  for  more  than  forty  years 
— by  himself,  until  lately;  and  now  with  strange  com- 
panions." 

"  Part  very  true,  and  all  very  probable,"  said  the  Judge. 
"All  true,  sir;  all  true.   Well,  within  these  last  few 


THE  PIONEERS. 


295 


months  have  appeared  as  his  companions,  an  old  Indian 
chief,  the  last,  or  one  of  the  last  of  his  tribe  that  is  to  be 
found  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  a  young  man,  who 
is  said  to  be  the  son  of  some  Indian  agent,  by  a  squaw." 

"  Who  says  that  ?  "  cried  Marmaduke,  with  an  interest 
that  he  had  not  manifested  before. 

"  Who  ?  why  common  sense — common  report — the  hue 
and  cry.  But  listen  till  you  know  all.  This  youth  has 
very  pretty  talents  — yes,  what  I  call  very  pretty  talents — 
and  has  been  well  educated,  has  seen  very  tolerable  com- 
pany and  knows  how  to  behave '.'  himself,  when  he  has  a 
mind  to.  Now,  Judge  Temple,  can  you  tell  me  what  has 
brought  three  such  men  as  Indian  John,  Natty  Bumppo, 
and  Oliver  Edwards  together  ?  " 

Marmaduke  turned  his  countenance,  in  evident  surprise, 
to  his  cousin,  and  replied  quickly, — 

"  Thou  hast  unexpectedly  hit  on  a  subject,  Eichard,  that 
has  often  occupied  my  mind.  But  knowest  thou  any- 
thing of  this  mystery,  or  are  they  only  the  crude  conjec- 
tures of  " — 

"Crude  nothing,  'Duke,  crude  nothing;  but  facts,  stub- 
born facts.  You  know  there  are  mines  in  these  mountains ; 
I  have  often  heard  you  say  that  you  believed  in  their  ex- 
istence." 

"  Seasoning  from  analogy,  Eichard,  but  not  with  any 
certainty  of  the  fact." 

"You  have-heard  them  mentioned,  and  have  seen  speci- 
mens of  the  ore,  sir;  you  will  not  deny  that !  and,  reason- 
ing from  analogy,  as  you  say,  if  there  be  mines  in  South 
America,  ought  there  not  to  be  mines  in  North  America 
too?" 

"Nay,  nay,  I  deny  nothing,  my  cousin.  1  certainly 
have  heard  many  rumors  of  the  existence  of  mines  in 
these  hills;  and  I  do  believe  that  I  have  seen  specimens  of 
the  precious  metals  that  have  been  found  here.  It  would 
occasion  me  no  surprise  to  learn  that  tin  and  silver,  or 
what  I  consider  of  more  consequence,  good  coal " — 

"Damn  your  coal,"  cried  the  Sheriff;  "who  wants  to 
iind  coal  in  these  forests  ?  No,  no,  silver,  'Duke ;  silver  is 
the  one  thing  needful,  and  silver  is  to  be  found.  But 
listen :  you  are  not  to  be  told  that  the  natives  have  long 
known  the  use  of  gold  and  silver  ;  now  who  so  likely  to  be 
acquainted  where  they  are  to  be  found,  as  the  ancient  in- 
habitants of  a  country  ?    I  have  the  best  reasons  for  be- 


296 


THE  PIONEERS. 


lieving  that  both  Mohegan  and  the  Leather-Stocking  have 
been  privy  to  the  existence  of  a  mine  in  this  very  moun- 
tain, for  many  years." 

The  Sheriff  had  now  touched  his  cousin  in  a  sensitive 
spot;  and  Marmaduke  lent  a  more  attentive  ear  to  the 
speaker,  who,  after  waiting  a  moment,  to  see  the  effect  of 
this  extraordinary  development,  proceeded, — 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  have  my  reasons,  and  at  a  proper  time  you 
shall  know  them." 

"  No  time  so  good  as  the  present." 

"  Well,  well,  be  attentive,"  continued  Eichard,  looking 
cautiously  about  him,  to  make  certain  that  no  eavesdrop- 
per was  hid  in  the  forest,  though  they  were  in  constant 
-motion.  "  I  have  seen  Mohegan  and  the  Leather-Stocking 
with  my  own  eyes — and  my  eyes  are  as  good  as  anybody's 
eyes — I  have  seen  them,  I  say,  both  going  up  the  mountain 
and  coming  down  it,  with  spades  and  picks ;  and  others 
have  seen  them  carrying  things  into  their  hut,  in  a  secret 
and  mysterious  manner,  after  dark.  Do  you  call  this  a 
fact  of  importance  ?  " 

The  Judge  did  not  reply,  but  his  brow  had  contracted, 
with  a  thoughtfulness  that  he  always  wore  when  much 
interested,  and  his  eyes  rested  on  his  cousin  in  expecta- 
tion of  hearing  more.    Eichard  continued, — 

"  It  was  ore.  Now,  sir,  I  ask  if  you  can  tell  me  who  this 
Mr.  Oliver  Edwards  is,  that  has  made  a  part  of  your  house- 
hold since  Christmas  ?  " 

Marmaduke  again  raised  his  eyes,  but  continued  silent, 
shaking  his  head  in  the  negative. 

"  That  he  is  a  half-breed  we  know,  for  Mohegan  does 
not  scruple  to  call  him  openly  his  kinsman;  that  he  is 
well  educated  we  know.  But  as  to  his  business  here — do 
you  remember  that  about  a  month  before  this  young  man 
made  his  appearance  among  us,  Natty  was  absent  from 
home  several  days?  You  do;  for  you  inquired  for  him, 
as  you  wanted  some  venison  to  take  to  your  friends,  when 
you  went  for  Bess.  Well,  he  was  not  to  be  found.  Old 
John  was  left  in  the  hut  alone ;  and  when  Natty  did  ap- 
pear, although  he  came  on  in  the  night,  he  was  seen  draw- 
ing one  of  those  jumpers  that  they  carry  their  grain  to 
mill  in,  and  to  take  out  something  with  great  care,  that 
he  had  covered  up  under  his  bearskins.  Now  let  me  ask 
you,  Judge  Temple,  what  motive  could  induce  a  man  like 
the  Leather-Stocking  to  make  a  sled,  and  toil  with  a  load 


Ttiiz  PIonMrS. 


297 


over  these  mountains,  if  he  had  nothing  but  his  rifle  or 
his  ammunition  to  carry  ?  " 

"They  frequently  make  these  jumpers  to  convey  their 
game  home,  and  you  say  he  had  been  absent  many  days." 

"  How  did  he  kill  it  ?  His  rifle  was  in  the  village,  to  be 
mended.  No,  no;  that  he  was  gone  to  some  unusual  place 
is  certain;  that  he  brought  back  some  secret  utensils  is 
more  certain ;  and  that  he  has  not  allowed  a  soul  to  ap- 
proach his  hut  since,  is  most  certain  of  all." 

"  He  was  never  fond  of  intruders  " — 

"I  know  it,"  interrupted  Eichard;  "but  did  he  drive 
them  from  his  cabin  morosely  ?  Within  a  fortnight  of  his 
return,  this  Mr.  Edwards  appears.  They  spend  whole 
days  in  the  mountains,  pretending  to  be  shooting,  but  in 
reality  exploring;  the  frosts  prevent  their  digging  at  that 
time,  and  he  avails  himself  of  a  lucky  accident  to  get  into 
good  quarters.  But  even  now,  he  is  quite  half  of  his  time 
in  that  hut— many  hours  every  night.  They  are  smelt- 
ing, 'Duke,  they  are  smelting,  and  as  they  grow  rich,  you 
grow  poor." 

"How  much  of  this  is  thine  own,  Eichard,  and  how 
much  comes  from  others  ?  I  would  sift  the  wheat  from 
the  chaff." 

"  Part  is  my  own,  for  I  saw  the  jumper,  though  it  was 
broken  up  and  burnt  in  a  day  or  two.  I  have  told  you 
that  I  saw  the  old  man  with  his  spades  and  picks.  Hiram 
met  Natty,  as  he  was  crossing  the  mountain,  the  night  of 
his  arrival  with  the  sled,  and  very  good-naturedly  offered 
— Hiram  is  good-natured— to  carry  up  part  of  his.  load, 
for  the  old  man  had  a  heavy  pull  up  the  back  of  the 
mountain,  but  he  wouldn't  listen  to  the  thing,  and  re- 
pulsed the  offer  in  such  a  manner  that  the  squire  said  he 
had  half  a  mind  to  swear  the  peace  against  him.  Since 
the  snow  has  been  off,  more  especially  after  the  frosts  got 
out  of  the  ground,  we  have  kept  a  watchful  eye  on  the 
gentleman,  in  which  we  have  found  J otham  useful." 

Marmaduke  did  not  much  like  the  associates  of  Eichard 
in  this  business;  still  he  knew  them  to  be  cunning  and 
ready  in  expedients;  and  as  there  was  certainly  something 
mysterious,  not  only  in  the  connection  between  the  old 
hunters  and  Edwards,  but  in  what  his  cousin  had  just  re- 
lated, he  began  to  revolve  the  subject  in  his  own  mind 
with  more  care.  On  reflection,  he  remembered  various 
circumstances  that  tended  to  corroborate  these  suspicions, 


THE  PIONEERS. 


and,  as  the  whole  business  favored  one  of  his  infirmities, 
he  yielded  the  more  readily  to  their  impression.  The 
mind  of  Judge  Temple,  at  all  times  comprehensive,  had 
received,  from  his  peculiar  occupations,  a  bias  to  look  far 
into  futurity,  in  his  speculations  on  the  improvements  that 
posterity  were  to  make  in  his  lands.  To  his  eye,  where 
others  saw  nothing  but  a  wilderness,  towns,  manufactories, 
bridges,  canals,  mines,  and  all  the  other  resources  of  an 
old  country  were  constantly  presenting  themselves,  though 
his  good  sense  suppressed,  in  some  degree,  the  exhibition 
of  these  expectations. 

As  the  Sheriff  allowed  his  cousin  full  time  to  reflect  on 
what  he  had  heard,  the  probability  of  some  pecuniary  ad- 
venture being  the  connecting  link  in  the  chain  that 
brought  Oliver  Edwards  into  the  cabin  of  Leather-Stock- 
ing, appeared  to  him  each  moment  to  be  stronger.  But 
Marmaduke  was  too  much  in  the  habit  of  examining  both 
sides  of  a  subject,  not  to  perceive  the  objections,  and  he 
reasoned  with  himself  aloud:— 

"  It  cannot  be  so,  or  the  youth  would  not  be  driven  so 
near  the  verge  of  poverty." 

"  What  so  likely  to  make  a  man  dig  for  money,  as  being 
poor  ?  "  cried  the  Sheriff. 

"  Besides,  there  is  an  elevation  of  character  about  Oliver, 
that  proceeds  from  education,  which  would  forbid  so  clan- 
destine a  proceeding." 

"  Could  an  ignorant  fellow  smelt  ?  "  continued  Richard. 

"  Bess  hints  that  he  was  reduced  even  to  his  last  shilling, 
when  we  took  him  into  our  dwelling." 

"  He  had  been  buying  tools.  And  would  he  spend  his 
last  sixpence  for  a  shot  at  a  turkey,  had  he  not  known 
where  to  get  more  ?  " 

"  Can  I  have  possibly  been  so  long  a  dupe!  His  manner 
has  been  rude  to  me  at  times;  but  I  attributed  it  to  his 
conceiving  himself  injured,  and  to  his  mistaking  the  forms 
of  the  world." 

"  Haven't  you  been  a  dupe  all  your  life,  'Duke  ?  and 
ain't  what  you  call  ignorance  of  forms  deep  cunning,  to 
conceal  his  real  character  ?  " 

"If  he  were  bent  on  deception,  he  would  have  concealed 
his  knowledge,  and  passed  with  us  for  an  inferior  man." 

"  He  cannot.  I  could  no  more  pass  for  a  fool,  myself, 
than  I  could  fly.  Knowledge  is  not  to  be  concealed,  like 
a  candle  under  a  bushel." 


THE  PIONEERS, 


299 


"  Richard/'  said  the  Judge,  turning  to  his  cousin,  "  then; 
are  many  reasons  against  the  truth  of  thy  conjectures ;  but 
thou  hast  awakened  suspicions  which  must  be  satisfied. 
But  why  are  we  travelling  here  ?  " 

"Jotham,  who  has  been  much  in  the  mountain  latterly, 
being  kept  there  by  me  and  Hiram,  has  made  a  discovery, 
which  he  will  not  explain,  he  says,  for  he  is  bound  by  an 
oath ;  but  the  amount  is,  that  he  knows  where  the  ore  lies, 
and  he  has  this  day  begun  to  dig.  I  would  not  consent  to  the 
thing,  'Duke,  without  your  knowledge,  for  the  land  is 
yours;  and  now  you  know  the  reason  of  our  ride.  I  call 
this  a  countermine,  ha ! " 

"And  where  is  the  desirable  spot  ? "  asked  the  Judge, 
with  an  air  half  comical,  half  serious. 

"At  hand;  and  when  we  have  visited  that,  I  will  show 
you  one  of  the  places  that  we  have  found  within  a  week, 
where  our  hunters  have  been  amusing  themselves  for  six 
months  past." 

The  gentlemen  continued  to  discuss  the  matter,  while 
their  horses  picked  their  way  under  the  branches  of  trees, 
and  over  the  uneven  ground  of  the  mountain.  They  soon  ar- 
rived at  the  end  of  their  journey,  where,  in  truth,  they 
found  Jotham  already  buried  to  his  neck  in  a  hole  that  he 
had  been  digging. 

Marmaduke  questioned  the  miner  very  closely,  as  to  his 
reasons  for  believing  in  the  existence  of  the  precious  metals 
near  that  particular  spot;  but  the  fellow  maintained  an 
obstinate  mystery  in  his  answers.  He  asserted  that  he 
had  the  best  of  reasons  for  what  he  did,  and  inquired  of 
the  Judge  what  portion  of  the  profits  would  fall  to  his 
own  share,  in  the  event  of  success,  with  an  earnestness 
that  proved  his  faith.  After  spending  an  hour  near  the 
place,  examining  the  stones,  and  searching  for  the  usual 
indications  of  the  proximity  of  ore,  the  Judge  remounted, 
and  suffered  his  cousin  to  lead  the  way  to  the  place  where 
the  mysterious  trio  had  been  making  their  excavation. 

The  spot  chosen  by  Jotham  was  on  the  back  of  the 
mountain  that  overhung  the  hut  of  Leather-Stocking,  and 
the  place  selected  by  Natty  and  his  companions  was  on 
the  other  side  of  the  same  hill,  but  above  the  road,  and,  of 
course,  in  an  opposite  direction  to  the  route  taken  by  the 
ladies  in  their  walk. 

"  We  shall  be  safe  in  approaching  the  place  now,"  said 
Richard,  while  they  dismounted  and  fastened  their  horses ; 


300 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"for  I  took  a  look  witK  the  glass,  and  saw  John  and 
Leather-Stocking,  in  their  canoe  fishing,  before  we  left 
home,  and  Oliver  is  in  the  same  pursuit;  but  these  may  be 
nothing  but  shams,  to  blind  our  eyes,  so  we  will  be  expedi- 
tious, for  it  would  not  be  pleasant  to  be  caught  here  by 
them." 

"  Not  on  my  own  land !  "  said  Marmaduke  sternly.  "  If 
it  be  as  you  suspect,  I  will  know  their  reasons  for  making 
this  excavation." 

'■■  Mum,"  said  Richard,  laying  a  finger  on  his  lip,  and 
leading  the  way  down  a  very  difficult  descent  to  a  sort  of 
natural  cavern,  which  was  found  in  the  face  of  the  rock, 
and  was  not  unlike  a  fire-place  in  shape.  In  front  of  this 
place  lay  a  pile  of  earth,,  which  had  evidently  been  taken 
from  the  recess,  and  part  of  which  was  yet  fresh.  An  ex- 
amination of  the  exterior  of  the  cavern  left  the  Judge  in 
doubt  whether  it  was  one  of  nature's  frolics  that  had 
thrown  it  into  that  shape,  or  whether  it  had  been  wrought 
by  the  hands  of  man,  at  some  earlier  period.  But  there 
could  be  no  doubt  that  the  whole  of  the  interior  was  of 
recent  formation,  and  the  marks  of  the  pick  were  still 
visible,  where  the  soft,  lead-colored  rock  had  opposed  itself 
to  the  progress  of  the  miners.  The  whole  formed  an  ex- 
cavation of  about  twenty  feet  in  width,  and  nearly  twice 
that  distance  in  depth.  The  height  was  much  greater 
than  was  required  for  the  ordinary  purposes  of  experi- 
ment; but  this  was  evidently  the  effect  of  chance,  as  the 
roof  of  the  cavern  was  a  natural  stratum  of  rock  that  pro- 
jected many  feet  beyond  the  base  of  the  pile.  Immediately 
in  front  of  the  recess,  or  cave,  was  a  little  terrace,  partly 
formed  by  nature,  and  partly  by  the  earth  that  had  been 
carelessly  thrown  aside  by  the^  laborers.  The  mountain 
fell  off  precipitously  in  front  of  the  terrace,  and  the  ap- 
proach by  its  sides,  under  the  ridge  of  the  rocks,  was  diffi- 
cult and  a  little  dangerous.  The  whole  was  wild,  rude, 
and  apparently  incomplete :  for,  while  looking  among  the 
bushes,  the  Sheriff  found  the  very  implements  that  had 
been  used  in  the  work. 

When  the  Sheriff  thought  that  his  cousin  had  examined 
the  spot  sufficiently,  he  asked  solemnly, — 

"Judge  Temple,  are  you  satisfied  ?" 

"  Perfectly,  that  there  is  something  mysterious  and  per- 
plexing in  this  business.  It  is  a  secret  spot  and  cunningly 
devised,  Richard;  yet  I  see  no  symptoms  of  ore." 


THE  PIONEERS.  30 1 


"Do  you  expect,  air,  to  find  'gold  and  silver  lying  like 
pebbles  on  the  surface  of  the  earth  ?— dollars  and  dimes 
ready  coined  to  your  hands!  No,  no— the  treasure  must 
be  sought  after  to  be  won.  But  let  them  mine;  I  shall 
countermine." 

The  Judge  took  an  accurate  survey  of  the  place,  and 
noted  in  his  memorandum  book  such  marks  as  were  neces- 
sary to  find  it  again,  in  the  event  of  Richard's  absence; 
when  the  cousins  returned  to  their  horses. 

On  reaching  the  highway  they  separated,  the  Sheriff  to 
summon  twenty-four  "  good  men  and  true,"  to  attend  as 
the  inquest  of  the  county,  on  the  succeeding  Monday,  when 
Marmaduke  held  his  stated  court  of  "  common  pleas  and 
general  sessions  of  the  peace,"  and  the  Judge  to  return, 
musing  deeply  on  what  he  had  seen  and  heard  m  the 
course  of  the  morning. 

When  the  horse  of  the  latter  reached  the  spot  where  the 
highway  fell  towards  the  valley,  the  eye  of  Marmaduke 
rested,  it  is  true,  on  the  same  scene  that  had,  ten  minutes 
before,  been  so  soothing  to  the  feelings  of  his  daughter  and 
her  friend  as  they  emerged  from  the  forest;  but  it  rested 
in  vacancy.  He  threw  the  reins  to  his  sure-footed  beast, 
and  suffered  the  animal  to  travel  at  its  own  gait,  while  he 
soliloquized  as  follows : — 

"  There  may  be  more  in  this  than  I  at  first  supposed.  _  1 
have  suffered  my-  feeling  to  blind  my  reason,  in  admitting 
an  unknown  youth  in  this  manner  to  my  dwelling;  yet 
this  is  not  the  land  of  suspicion.  I  will  have  the  Leather- 
Stocking  before  me,  and,  by  a  few  direct  questions,  extract 
the  truth  from  the  simple  old  man." 

At  that  instant  the  Judge  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  figures 
of  Elizabeth  and  Louisa,  who  were  slowly  descending  the 
mountain,  a  short  distance  before  him.  He  put  spurs  to 
his  horse,  and  riding  up  to  them,  dismounted,  and  drove 
his  steed  along  the  narrow  path.  While  the  agitated 
parent  was  listening  to  the  vivid  description  that  his 
daughter  gave  of  her  recent  danger,  and  her  unexpected 
escape,  all  thoughts  of  mines,  vested  rights,  and  examina- 
tions, were  absorbed  in  emotion ;  and  when  the  image  of 
Natty  again  crossed  his  recollection,  it  was  not  as  a  lawless 
and  depredating  squatter,  but  as  the  preserver  of  his  child. 


302 


THE  PIONEERS. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

The  court  awards  it,  and  the  law  doth  give  it. 

Merchant  of  Venice. 

Remarkable  Pettibone,  who  had  forgotten  the  wound 
received  by  her  pride,  in  contemplation  of  the  ease  and 
comforts  of  her  situation,  and  who  still  retained  her  station 
in  the  family  of  Judge  Temple,  was  despatched  to  the 
humble  dwelling  which  Richard  already  styled  the  Rectory, 
in  attendance  on  Louisa,  who  was  soon  consigned  to  the 
arms  of  her  father. 

In  the  mean  time,  Marmaduke  and  his  daughter  were 
closeted  for  more  than  an  hour,  nor  shall  we  invade  the  sanc- 
tuary of  parental  love,  by  relating  the  conversation.  When 
the  curtain  rises  on  the  reader,  the  Judge  is  seen  walking 
up  and  down  the  apartment,  with  a  tender  melancholy  in 
his  air,  and  his  child  reclining  on  a  settee,  with  a  flushed 
cheek,  and  her  dark  eyes  seeming  to  float  in  crystals. 

"It  was  a  timely  rescue!  it  was,  indeed,  a  timely  rescue, 
my  child !  "  cried  the  J udge.  "  Then  thou  didst  not  desert 
thy  friend,  my  noble  Bess  ?  " 

"  I  believe  I  may  as  well  take  the  credit  of  fortitude," 
said  Elizabeth,  "though  I  much  doubt  if  flight  would 
have  availed  me  anything,  had  I  even  courage  to  execute 
such  an  intention.    But  I  thought  not  of  the  expedient." 

"Of  what  didst  thou  think,  love?  where  did  thy 
thoughts  dwell  most,  at  that  fearful  moment  ?  " 

"The  beast!  the  beast!"  cried  Elizabeth,  veiling  her 
face  with  her  hand:  "0!  I  saw  nothing,  I  thought  of 
nothing  but  the  beast.  I  tried  to  think  of  better  things, 
but  the  horror  was  too  glaring,  the  danger  too  much  before 
my  eyes." 

"  Well,  well,  thou  art  safe,  and  we  will  converse  no  more 
on  the  unpleasant  subject.  I  did  not  think  such  an  ani- 
mal yet  remained  in  our  forests;  but  they  will  stray  far 
from  their  haunts  when  pressed  by  hunger,  and" — 

A  loud  knocking  at  the  door  of  the  apartment  inter- 
rupted what  he  was  about  to  utter,  and  he  bid  the  appli- 
cant enter.    The  door  was  opened  by  Benjamin,  who  came 


7  7/ a;  pioneers. 


303 


in  with  a  discontented  air,  as  if  he  felt  that  he  had  a  com- 
munication to  make  that  would  be  out  of  season. 

"  Here  is  Squire  Doolittle  below,  sir,"  commenced  the 
major-domo.  "  He  has  been  standing  off  and  on  in  the 
door-yard,  for  the  matter  of  a  glass;  and  he  has  sum'mat 
on  his  mind  that  he  wants  to  heave  up,  dy'e  see;  but  I 
tells  him,  says  I,  '  Man,  would  you  be  coming  aboard  with 
your  complaints/  said  I,  '  when  the  Judge  has  gotten  his 
own  child,  as  it  were,  out  of  the  jaws  of  a  lion  ? '  but  damn 
the  bit  of  manners  has  the  fellow,  any  more  than  if  he  was 
one  of  them  Guineas  clown  in  the  kitchen  there;  and  so 
as  he  was  sheering  nearer,  every  stretch  he  made,  towards 
the  house,  I  could  do  no  better  than  to  let  your  honor 
know  that  the  chap  was  in  the  offing." 

"  He  must  have  business  of  importance,"  said  Marma- 
duk?;  "something  in  relation  to  his  office,  most  probably, 
as  the  court  sits  so  shortly." 

"Aye,  aye,  you  have  it,  sir,"  cried  Benjamin,  "  it's  sum'- 
mat  about  a  complaint  that  he  has  to  make  of  the  old 
Leather-Stocking,  who,  to  my  judgment,  is  the  better  man 
of  the  two.  It's  a  very  good  sort  of  a  man  is  this  Master 
Bumppo,  and  he  has  a  way  with  a  spear,  all  the  same  as  if 
he  was  brought  up  at  the  bow  oar  of  the  captain's  barge, 
or  was  born  with  a  boat-hook  in  his  hand." 

"Against  the  Leather-Stocking ! "  cried  Elizabeth,  rising 
from  her  reclining  posture. 

"  Rest  easy,  my  child ;  some  trifle,  I  pledge  you :  I  be- 
lieve I  am  already  acquainted  with  its  import.  Trust  me, 
Bess,  your  champion  shall  be  safe  in  my  care.  Show  Mr. 
Doolittle  in,  Benjamin." 

Miss  Temple  appeared  satisfied  with  this  assurance,  but 
fastened  her  dark  eyes  on  the  person  of  the  architect,  who 
profited  by  the  permission,  and  instantly  made  his  appear- 
ance. 

All  the  impatience  of  Hiram  seemed  to  vanish  the  in- 
stant he  entered  the  apartment.  After  saluting  the  Judge 
and  his  daughter,  he  took  the  chair  to  which  Marmaduke 
pointed,  and  sat  for  a  minute,  composing  his  straight 
black  hair,  with  a  gravity  of  demeanor  that  was  intended 
to  do  honor  to  his  official  station.    At  length  he  said, — 

"  It's  likely,  from  what  I  hear,  that  Miss  Temple  had  a 
pretty  narrow  chance  with  the  painters,  on  the  mountain." 

Marmaduke  made  a  gentle  inclination  of  his  head,  by 
way  of  assent,  but  continued,  silent. 


304 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  I  s'pose  the  law  gives  a  bounty  on  the  scalps,"  con- 
tinued. Hiram,  "in  which  case  the  Leather-Stocking  will 
made  a  good  job  on't." 

"  It  shall  be  my  care  to  see  that  he  is  rewarded/'  re- 
turned the  Judge. 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  rather  guess  that  nobody  hereabouts  doubts 
the  Judge's  generosity.  Does  he  know  whether  the  Sheriff 
has  fairly  made  up  his  mind  to  have  a  reading-desk  or  a 
deacon's  pew  under  the  pulpit  ?  99 

"I  have  not  heard  my  cousin  speak  on  that  subject, 
lately,"  replied  Marmaduke. 

"  I  think  it's  likely  that  we  will  have  a  pretty  dull  court 
on't,  from  what  I  can  gather.  I  hear  that  Jotham  Riddel 
and  the  man  who  bought  his  betterments,  have  agreed  to 
leave  their  difference  to  men,  and  I  don't  think  there'll  be 
more  than  two  civil  cases  in  the  calendar." 

"I  am  glad  of  it,"  said  the  Judge;  ei nothing  gives  me 
more  pain  than  to  see  my  settlers  wasting  their  time  and 
substance  in  the  unprofitable  struggles  of  the  law.  I  hope 
it  may  prove  true,  sir." 

"  I  rather  guess  'twill  be  left  out  to  men,"  added  Hiram, 
with  an  air  equally  balanced  between  doubt  and  assurance, 
but  which  Judge  Temple  understood  to  mean  certainty; 
"  I  some  think  that  I  am  appointed  a  referee  in  the  case 
myself;  Jotham  as  much  as  told  -me  that  he  should  take 
me.  The  defendant,  I  guess,  means  to  take  Captain 
Hollister,  and  we  two  have  partly  agreed  on  Squire  J  ones 
for  the  third  man." 

"Are  there  any  criminals  to  be  tried  ? "  asked  Marma- 
duke. 

"There's  the  counterfeiters,"  returned  the  magistrate; 
"  as  they  were  caught  in  the  fact,  I  think  it  likely  that 
they'll  be  indicted,  in  which  case  it's  probable  they'll  be 
tried." 

"  Certainly,  sir,  I  had  forgotten  those  men.  There  are 
no  more,  I  hope." 

•  "  Why,  there  is  a  threaten  to  come  f orrad  with  an  as- 
sault, that  happened  at  the  last  Independence  Day;  but 
I'm  not  sartain  that  the  law'll  take  hold  on't.  There  was 
plaguey  hard  words  passed,  but  whether  they  struck  or 
not  I  haven't  heard.  There's  some  folks  talk  of  a  deer  or 
two  being  killed  out  of  season,  over  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Patent,  by  some  of  the  squatters  on  the  '  Fractions.' " 
"Let  a  complaint  be  made,  by  all  means,"  cried  the 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Judge,  "  I  am  determined  to  see  the  law  executed  to  the 
letter,  on  all  such  depredators."  ■ 

"  Why,  yes,  I  thought  the  Judge  was  of  that  mind ;  I 
come  partly  on  such  a  business  myself." 

"  You ! "  exclaimed  Marmaduke,  comprehending  in  aik 
instant  how  completely  he  had  been  caught  by  the  other's 
cunning;  "and  what  have  you  to  say,  sir?" 

"I  some  think  that  Natty  Bumppo  has  the  carcass  of 
a  deer  in  his  hut  at  this  moment,  and  a  considerable  part 
of  my  business  was  to  get  a  search-warrant  to  examine." 

"  You  think,  sir !  do  you  know  that  the  law  exacts  an 
oath,  before  I  can  issue  such  a  precept  ?  The  habitation 
of  a  citizen  is  not  to  be  idly  invaded  on  light  suspicion." 

"  I  rather  think  I  can  swear  to  it  myself,"  returned  the 
immovable  Hiram ;  "  and  Jotham  is  in  the  street,  and  as 
good  as  ready  to  come  in  and  make  oath  to  the  same 
thing." 

"Then  issue  the  warrant  thyself;  thou  art  a  magistrate, 
Mr.  Doolittle ;  why  trouble  me  with  the  matter  ?  " 

"Why,  seeing  it's  the  first  complaint  under  the  law,  and 
knowing  the  Judge  set  his  heart  on  the  thing,  I  thought 
it  best  that  the  authority  to  search  should  come  from  him- 
self. Besides,  as  I'm  much  in  the  woods,  among  the 
timber,  I  don't  altogether  like  making  an  enemy  of  the 
Leather-Stocking.  Now  the  Judge  has  a  weight  in  the 
county  that  puts  him  above  fear." 

Miss  Temple  turned  her  face  to  the  callous  architect,  as 
she  said, — 

"And  what  has  any  honest  person  to  dread  from  so  kind 
a  man  as  Bumppo  ?  " 

"  Why,  it's  as  easy,  Miss,  to  pull  a  rifle-trigger  on  a  mag- 
istrate as  on  a  painter.  But  if  the  Judge  don't  conclude 
to  issue  the  warrant,  I  must  go  home  and  make  it  out 
myself." 

"  I  have  not  refused  your  application,  sir,"  said  Marma- 
duke,  perceiving  at  once  that  his  reputation  for  impartiality 
was  at  stake;  "go  into  my  office,  Mr,  Doolittle,  where  I 
will  join  you,  and  sign  the  warrant." 

Judge  Temple  stopped  the  remonstrances  which  Eliza- 
beth was  about  to  utter,  after  Hiram  had  withdrawn,  by 
laying  his  hand  on  her  mouth,  and  saying, — 

"  It  is  more  terrific  in  sound  than  frightful  in  reality, 
my  child.  I  suppose  that  the  Leather-Stocking  has  shot 
a  deer,  for  the  season  is  nearly  over,  and  you  say  that  he 


306 


THE  PIONEERS. 


was  hunting  with  his  dogs  when  he  came  so  timely  to  your 
assistance.  But  it  will  .be  only  to  examine  his  cabin,  and 
find  the  animal,  when  you  can  pay  the  penalty  out  of  your 
own  pocket,  Bess.  Nothing  short  of  the  twelve  dollars 
and  a  half  will  satisfy  this  harpy,  I  perceive;  and  surely 
my  reputation  as  a  Judge  is  worth  that  trifle." 

Elizabeth  was  a  good  deal  pacified  with  this  assurance, 
and  suffered  her  father  to  leave  her,  to  fulfill  his  promise 
to  Hiram. 

When  Marmaduke  left  his  office,  after  executing  his 
disagreeable  duty,  he  met  Oliver  Edwards,  walking  up  the 
graveled  walk  in  front  of  the  Mansion-house,  with  great 
strides,  and  with  a  face  agitated  by  feeling.  On  seeing 
Judge  Temple,  the  youth  turned  aside,  and  with  a  warmth 
in  his  manner  that  was  not  often  exhibited  to  Marmaduke, 
he  cried, — 

"  I  congratulate  you,  sir;  from  the  bottom  of  my  soul  I 
congratulate  you,  Judge  Temple.  0 !  it  would  have  been 
too  horrid  to  have  recollected  for  a  moment !  I  have  just 
left  the  hut,  where,  after  showing  me  his  scalps,  old  Natty 
told  me  of  the  escape  of  the  ladies,  as  a  thing  to  be  men- 
tioned last.  Indeed,  indeed,  sir,  no  words  of  mine  can 
express  half  of  what  I  have  felt " — the  youth  paused  a  mo- 
ment, as  if  suddenly  recollecting  that  he  was  overstepping 
prescribed  limits,  and  concluded  with  a  good  deal  of  em- 
barrassment— "  what  I  have  felt  at  this  danger  to  Miss — 
Grant,  and — and  your  daughter,  sir." 

But  the  heart  of  Marmaduke  was  too  much  softened  to 
admit  of  his  caviling  at  trifles,  and  without  regarding  the 
confusion  of  the  other,  he  replied, — 

"  I  thank  thee,  thank  thee,  Oliver ;  as  thou  sayest,  it  is 
almost  too  horrid  to  be  remembered.  But  come,  let  us 
hasten  to  Bess,  for  Louisa  has  already  gone  to  the  Rectory." 

The  young  man  sprang  forward,  and  throwing  open  a 
door,  barely  permitted  the  Judge  to  precede  him,  when  he 
was  in  the  presence  of  Elizabeth  in  a  moment. 

The  cold  distance  that  often  crossed  the  demeanor  of 
the  heiress,  in  her  intercourse  with  Edwards,  was  now  en- 
tirely banished,  and  two  hours  were  passed  by  the  party  in 
the  free,  unembarrassed,  and  confiding  manner  of  old  and 
esteemed  friends.  Judge  Temple  had  forgotten  the  sus- 
picions engendered  during  his  morning's  ride,  and  the 
youth  and  maiden  conversed,  laughed,  and  were  sad  by 
turns,  as  impulse  directed.    At  length  Edwards,  after  re- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


307 


peating  his  intention  to  do  so  for  the  third  time,  left  the 
Mansion-house  to  go  to  the  Rectory  on  a  similar  errand  of 
friendship. 

During  this  short  period,  a  scene  was  passing  at  the  hut 
that  completely  frustrated  the  benevolent  intentions  of  . 
Judge  Temple  in  favor  of  the  Leather-Stocking,  and  at 
once  destroyed  the  short-lived  harmony  between  the  youth 
and  Marmaduke. 

When  Hiram  Doolittle  had  obtained  his  search-warrant, 
his  first  business  was  to  procure  a  proper  officer  to  see  it 
executed.  The  Sheriff  was  absent,  summoning  in  person 
the  grand  inquest  for  the  county ;  the  deputy,  who  resided 
in  the  village,  was  riding  on  the  same  errand,  in  a  different 
part  of  the  settlement;  and  the  regular  constable  of  the 
township  had  been  selected  for  his  station  from  motives  of 
charity,  being  lame  of  a  leg.  Hiram  intended  to  accom- 
pany the  officer  as  a  spectator,  but  he  felt  no  very  strong 
desire  to  bear  the  brunt  of  the  battle.  It  was,  however, 
Saturday,  and  the  sun  was  already  turning  the  shadows  of 
the  pines  towards  the  east ;  on  the  morrow  the  conscien- 
tious magistrate  could  not  engage  in  such  an  expedition, 
at  the  peril  of  his  soul;  and  long  before  Monday,  the 
venison,  and  all  vestiges  of  the  death  of  the  deer,  might  be 
secreted  or  destroyed.  Happily,  the  lounging  form  of 
Billy  Kirby  met  his  eye,  and  Hiram,  at  all  times  fruitful 
in  similar  expedients,  saw  his  way  clear  at  once.  Jotham, 
who  was  associated  in  the  whole  business,  and  who  had 
left  the  mountain  in  consequence  of  a  summons  from  his 
coadjutor,  but  who  failed,  equally  with  Hiram,  in  the  un- 
fortunate particular  of  nerve,  was  directed  to  summon  the 
wood-chopper  to  the  dwelling  of  the  magistrate. 

When  Billy  appeared,  he  was  very  kindly  invited  to  take 
the  chair  in  which  he  had  already  seated  himself,  and 
was  treated  in  all  respects  as  if  he  were  an  equal. 

"  Judge  Temple  has  set  his  heart  on  putting  the  deer 
law  in  force/'  said  Hiram,  after  the  preliminary  civilities 
were  over,  "  and  a  complaint  has  been  laid  before  him  that 
a  deer  has  been  killed.  He  has  issued  a  search-warrant, 
and  sent  for  me  to  get  somebody  to  execute  it." 

Kirby,  who  had  no  idea  of  being  excluded  from  the  de- 
liberative part  of  any  affair  in  which  he  was  engaged,  drew 
up  his  bushy  head  in  a  reflecting  attitude,  and,  after  mus- 
ing a  moment,  replied  by  asking  a  few  questions. 

"  The  Sheriff  is  gone  out  of  the  way  ?  " 


3o8 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"Not  to  be  found/' 
"  And  his  deputy  too  ?  " 
"  Both  gone  on  the  skirts  of  the  Patent." 
"But  I  saw  the  constable  hobbling  about  town  an  hour 
ago." 

"Yes,  yes/'  said  Hiram,  with  a  coaxing  smile  and  know- 
ing nod,  "  but  this  business  wants  a  man — not  a  cripple." 

"Why,"  said  Billy,  laughing,  "will  the  chap  make 
fight?" 

"  He's  a  little  quarrelsome  at  times,  and  thinks  he's  the 
best  man  in  the  country  at  rough  and  tumble." 

"  I  heard  him  brag  once,"  said  Jotham,  "  that  there  wasn't 
a  man  'twixt  the  Mohawk  Flats  and  the  Pennsylvany  line 
that  was  his  match  at  a  close  hug." 

"  Did  you  ? "  exclaimed  Kirby,  raising  his  huge  frame 
in  his  seat,  like  a  lion  stretching  in  his  lair;  "I  rather 
guess  he  never  felt  a  Varmounter's  knuckles  on  his  back- 
bone.   But  who  is  the  chap  ?  " 

"  Why,"  said  Jotham,  "  it's  "— 

"  It's  ag'in  law  to  tell,"  interrupted  Hiram,  "  unless  you'll 
qualify  to  sarve.  You'd  be  the  very  man  to  take  him,  Bill ; 
and  I'll  make  out  a  special  deputation  in  a  minute,  when 
you  will  get  the  fees." 

"  What's  the  fees  ?  "  said  Kirby,  laying  his  large  hand 
on  the  leaves  of  a  statute-book,  that  Hiram  had  opened  in 
order  to  give  dignity  to  his  office,  which  he  turned  oyer, 
in  his  rough  manner,  as  if  he  were  reflecting  on  a  subject 
about  which  he  had,  in  truth,  already  decided;  "will  they 
pay  a  man  for  a  broken  head  ?  " 

"  They'll  be  something  handsome,"  said  Hiram. 

"Damn  the  fees,"  said  Billy,  again  laughing:  "does  the 
fellow  think  he's  the  best  wrestler  in  the  county,  though  ? 
what's  his  inches  ?  " 

"  He's  taller  than  you  be,"  said  Jotham,  "  and  one  of  the 
biggest " — 

Talkers,  he  was  about  to  add,  but  the  impatience  of 
Kirby  interrupted  him.  The  wood-chopper  had  nothing 
fierce  or  even  brutal  in  his  appearance ;  the  character  of 
his  expression  was  that  of  good-natured  vanity.  It  was 
evident  he  prided  himself  on  the  powers  of  the  physical 
man,  like  all  who  have  nothing  better  to  boast  of;  and, 
stretching  out  his  broad  hand,  with  the  palm  downwards, 
he  said,  keeping  his  eyes  fastened  on  his  own  bones  and 
sinews,— 


THE  PJONEKKS. 


309 


"  Come,  give  us  a  touch  of  the  book.  I'll  swear,  and 
you'll  see  that  I'm  a  man  to  keep  my  oath." 

Hiram  did  not  give  the  wood-chopper  time  to  change 
his  mind,  but  the  oath  was  administered  without  unneces- 
.  sary  delay.  So  soon  as  this  preliminary  was  completed, 
the  three  worthies  left  the  house,  and  proceeded  by  the 
nearest  road  towards  the  hut.  They  had  reached  the  bank 
of  the  lake,  and  were  diverging  from  the  route  of  the  high- 
way, before  Kirby  recollected  that  he  was  now  entitled  to 
the  privilege  of  the  initiated,  and  repeated  his  question 
as  to  the  name  of  the  offender. 

"  Which  way,  which  way,  squire  ?  "  exclaimed  the  hardy 
wood-chopper;  "I  thought  it  was  to  search  a  house  that 
you  wanted  me,  not  the  woods.  There  is  nobody  lives  on 
this  side  of  the  lake,  for  six  miles,  nnless  you  count  the 
-  Leather-Stocking  and  old  John  for  settlers.  Come,  tell 
me  the  chap's  name,  and  I  warrant  me  that  I  lead  you  to 
his  clearing  by  a  straighter  path  than  this,  for  I  know 
every  sapling  that  grows  within  two  miles  of  Templetown." 

"  This  is  the  way,"  said  Hiram,  pointing  forward,  and 
quickening  his  step,  as  if  apprehensive  that  Kirby  would 
desert,  "  and  Bumppo  is  the  man." 

Kirby  stopped  short,  and  looked  from  one  of  his  com- 
panions to  the  other  in  astonishment.  He  then  burst  into 
a  loud  laugh,  and  cried, — 

"  Who  ?  Leather-Stocking !  he  may  brag  of  his  aim  and 
his  rifle,  for  he  has  the  best  of  both,  as  I  will  own  myself, 
for  sin'  he  shot  the  pigeon  I  knock  under  to  him;  but  for 
a  wrestle!  why,  I  would  take  the  creatur'  between  my 
finger  and  thumb,  and  tie  him  in  a  bow-knot  around  my 
neck  for  a  Barcelony.  The  man  is  seventy,  and  was  never 
anything  particular  for  strength." 

"  He's  a  deceiving  man,"  said  Hiram,  "  like  all  the  hun- 
ters ;  he  is  stronger  than  he  seems ;  besides,  he  has  his  rifle." 

"  That  for  his  rifle ! "  cried  Billy :  "  he'd  no  more  hurt 
me  with  his  rifle  than  he'd  fly.  He  is  a  harmless  creatur', 
and  I  must  say  that  I  think  he  has  as  good  right  to  kill 
deer  as  any  man  on  the  Patent.  It's  his  main  support, 
and  this  is  a  free  country,  where  a  man  is  privileged  to 
follow  any  calling  he  likes." 

"According  to  that  doctrine,"  said  Jotham,  "anybody 
may  shoot  a  deer." 

"This  is  the  man's  calling,  I  tell  you,"  returned  Kirby, 
"  and  the  law  was  never  made  for  such  as  he." 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  The  law  was  made  for  all,"  observed  Hiram,  who  began 
to  think  that  the  danger  was  likely  to  fall  to  his  own  share, 
notwithstanding  his  management;  "and  the  law  is  par- 
ticular in  noticing  parjury." 

st  See  here,  Squire  Doolittle,"  said  the  reckless  wood-  ' 
chopper;  "I  don't  care  the  valie  of  a  beetle-ring  for  you 
and  your  parjury  too.    But  as  I  have  come  so  far,  Til  go 
down  and  have  a  talk  with  the  old  man,  and  maybe  we'll 
fry  a  steak  of  the  deer  together." 

"  Well,  if  you  can  get  in  peaceably,  so  much  the  better," 
said  the  magistrate.  "To  my  notion,  strife  is  very  un- 
popular; I  prefar,  at  all  times,  clever  conduct  to  an  ugly 
temper." 

As  the  whole  party  moved  at  a  great  pace,  they  soon 
reached  the  hut,  where  Hiram  thought  it  prudent  to  halt 
on  the  outside  of  the  top  of  the  fallen  pine,  which  formed 
a  chevaux-de-frise,  to  defend  the  approach  to  the  fortress, 
on  the  side  next  the  village.  The  delay  was  little  relished 
by  Kirby,  who  clapped  his  hands  to  his  mouth,  and  gave 
a  loud  halloo  that  brought  the  dogs  out  of  their  kennel 
and,  almost  at  the  same  instant,  the  scantily  covered  head 
of  Natty  from  the  door. 

"  Lie  down,  old  fool,"  cried  the  hunter ;  "  do  you  think 
there's  more  painters  about  you  ?  " 

"Ha!  Leather-Stocking,  I've  an  arrand  with  you,"  cried 
Kirby;  "  here's  the  good  people  of  the  State  have  been  writ- 
ing you  a  small  letter,  and  they've  hired  me  to  ride  post." 

"What  would  you  have  with  me,  Billy  Kirby?"  said 
Natty,  stepping  across  his  threshold,  and  raising  his  hand 
over  his  eyes  to  screen  them  from  the  rays  of  the  setting 
sun,  while  he  took  a  survey  of  his  visitor.  "I've  no  land 
to  clear:  and  Heaven  knows  I  would  set  out  six  trees  afore 
I  would  cut  down  one.  Down,  Hector,  I  say;  into  your 
kennel  with  ye." 

"  Would  yeu,  old  boy  ?  "  roared  Billy ;  "  then  so  much 
the  better  for  me.  But  I  must  do  my  arrand.  Here's  a 
lette?"  for  you,  Leather-Stocking.  If  you  can  read  it,  it's 
all  well,  and  if  you  can't,  here's  Squire  Doolittle  at  hand, 
to  let  you  know  what  it  means.  It  seems  you  mistook  the 
twentieth  of  July  for  the  first  of  August,  that's  all." 

By  this  time  Natty  had  discovered  the  lank  person  of 
Hiram,  drawn  up  under  the  cover  of  a  high  stump;  and 
all  that  was  complacent  in  his  manner  instantly  gave  way 
to  marked  distrust  and  dissatisfaction.    He  placed  his 


THE  PIONEERS. 


3" 


head  within  the  door  of  his  hut,  and  said  a  few  words  in 
an  undertone,  when  lie  again  appeared,  and  continued, — 

"I've  nothing  for  ye;  so  away,  afore  the  evil  one  tempts 
me  to  do  you  harm.  I  owe  you  no  spite,  Billy  Kirby,  and 
what  for  should  you  trouble  an  old  man,  who  has  done 
you  no  harm  ?  " 

Kirby  advanced  through  the  top  of  the  pine,  to  within 
a  few  feet  of  the  hunter,  where  he  seated  himself  on  the 
end  of  a  log  with  great  composure,  and  began  to  examine 
the  nose  of  Hector,  with  whom  he  was  familiar,  from  their 
frequently  meeting  in  the  woods,  where  he  sometimes  fed 
the  dog  from  his  own  basket  of  provisions. 

"  You've  outshofc  me,  and  I'm  not  ashamed  to  say  it," 
said  the  wood-chopper;  "but  I  don't  owe  you  a  grudge 
for  that,  Natty !  though  it  seems  that  you've  shot  once  too 
often,  for  the  story  goes  that  you've  killed  a  buck." 

"I've  fired  but  twice  to-day,  and  both  times  at  the 
painters,"  returned  the  Leather-Stocking;  "see,  here  are 
the  scalps !  I  was  just  going  in  with  them  to  the  Judge's 
to  ask  the  bounty." 

While  Natty  was  speaking,  he  tossed  the  ears  to  Kirby, 
who  continued  playing  with  them,  with  a  careless  air, 
holding  them  to  the  dogs,  and  laughing  at  their  move- 
ments when  they  scented  the  unusual  game. 

But  Hiram,  emboldened  by  the  advance  of  the  deputed 
constable,  now  ventured  to  approach  also,  and  took  up  the 
discourse  with  the  air  of  authority  that  became  his  com- 
mission. His  first  measure  was  to  read  the  warrant  aloud, 
taking  care  to  give  due  emphasis  to  the  most  material 
parts,  and"  concluding  with  the  name  of  the  Judge  in  very 
audible  and  distinct  tones. 

"  Did  Marmaduke  Temple  put  his  name  to  that  bit  of 
paper?"  said  Natty,  shaking  his  head;  " well,  well,  that 
man  loves  the  new  ways,  and  his  betterments,  and  his 
lands,  afore  his  own  flesh  and  blood.  But  I  won't  mis- 
trust the  gal :  she  has  an  eye  like  a  full-grown  buck !  poor 
thing,  she  didn't  choose  her  father,  and  can't  help  it.  I 
know  but  little  of  the  law,  Mr.  Doolittle;  what  is  to  be 
done,  now  you've  read  your  commission  ?  " 

"  0 !  it's  nothing  but  form,  Natty,"  said  Hiram,  endeav- 
oring to  assume  a  friendly  aspect.  "  Let's  go  in,  and  talk 
the  thing  over  in  reason ;  I  dare  to  say  that  the  money  can 
be  easily  found,  and  I  partly  conclude,  from  what  passed, 
that  Judge  Temple  will  pay  it  himself." 


312 


THE  PIONEERS. 


The  old  hunter  had  kept  a  keen  eye  on  the  movements 
of  his  three  visitors,  from  the  beginning,  and  had  main- 
tained his  position,  just  without  the  threshold  of  his  cabin, 
with  a  determined  manner,  that  showed  he  was  not  to  be 
easily  driven  from  his  post.  When  Hiram  drew  nigher, 
as  if  expecting  his  proposition  would  be  accepted,  Natty 
lifted  his  hand,  and  motioned  for  him  to  retreat. 

"  Haven't  I  told  you  more  than  once,  not  to  tempt  me  ?  " 
he  said.  "  I  trouble  no  man ;  why  can't  the  law  leave  me 
to  myself  ?  Go  back — go  back,  and  tell  your  Judge  that 
he  may  keep  his  bounty ;  but  I  won't  have  his  wasty  ways 
brought  into  my  hut." 

This  offer,  however,  instead  of  appeasing  the  curiosity  of 
Hiram,  seemed  to  inflame  it  the  more ;  while  Kirby  cried,— 

"Well,  that's  fair,  squire;  he  forgives  the  county  his 
demand,  and  the  county  should  forgive  him  the  fine ;  it's 
what  I  call  an  even  trade,  and  should  be  concluded  on  the 
spot.  I  like  quick  dealings,  and  what's  fair  'twixt  man 
and  man." 

"  I  demand  entrance  into  this  house,"  said  Hiram,  sum- 
moning all  the  dignity  he  could  muster  to  his  assistance, 
in  the  name  of  the  people ;  and  by  virtue  of  this  war- 
rant, and  of  my  office,  and  with  this  peace  officer." 

"  Stand  back,  stand  back,  squire,  and  don't  tempt  me," 
said  the  Leather-Stocking,  motioning  for  him  to  retire, 
with  great  earnestness. 

"Stop  us  at  your  peril,"  continued  Hiram.  "Billy 
Jotham !  close  up — I  want  testimony." 

Hiram  had  mistaken  the  mild  but  determined  air  of 
Natty  for  submission,  and  had  already  put  his  foot  on  the 
threshold  to  enter,  when  he  was  seized  unexpectedly  by 
his  shoulders,  and  hurled  over  the  little  bank  towards  the 
lake,  to  the  distance  of  twenty  feet.  The  suddenness  of 
the  movement,  and  the  unexpected  display  of  strength  on 
the  part  of  Natty,  created  a  momentary  astonishment  in 
his  invaders,  that  silenced  all  noises;  but  at  the  next 
instant  Billy  Kirby  gave  vent  to  his  mirth  in  peals  of 
laughter,  that  he  seemed  to  heave  up  from  his  very  soul. 

"  Well  done,  old  stub !  "  he  shouted :  "  the  squire  knowed 
you  better  than  I  did.  Come,  come,  here's  a  green  spot; 
take  it  out  like  men,  while  Jotham  and  I  see  fair  play." 

"  William  Kirby,  I  order  you  to  do  your  duty,"  cried 
Hiram,  from  under  the  bank;  "seize  that  man;  I  order 
you  to  seize  him  in  the  name  of  the  people." 


THE  PIONEERS. 


3»3 


But  the  Leather-Stocking  now  assumed  a  more  threat* 
ening  attitude;  his  rifle  was  in  his  hand,  and  its  muzzle 
was  directed  towards  the  wood-chopper. 

"Stand  off,  I  bid  ye,"  said  Natty;  "you  know  my  aim, 
Billy  Kirby ;  I  don't  crave  your  blood,  but  mine  and  your'n 
both  shall  turn  this  green  grass  red,  afore  you  put  foot 
into  the  hut." 

While  the  affair  appeared  trifling,  the  wood-chopper 
seemed  disposed  to  take  sides  with  the  weaker  party;  but 
when  the  fire-arms  were  introduced,  his  manner  very  sensi- 
bly changed.  He  raised  his  large  frame  from  the  log,  and 
facing  the  hunter  with  an  open  front,  he  replied, — 

"I  didn't  come  here  as  your  enemy,  Leather-Stocking; 
but  I  don't  value  the  hollow  piece  of  iron  in  your  hand  so 
much  as  a  broken  axe-helve;  so,  squire,  say  the  word,  and 
keep  within  the  law,  and  we'll  soon  see  who's  the  best  man 
of  the  two." 

But  no  magistrate  was  to  be  seen!  The  instant  the 
rifle  was  produced  Hiram  and  J otham  vanished ;  and  when 
the  wood-chopper  bent  his  eyes  about  him  in  surprise  at 
receiving  no  answer,  he  discovered  their  retreating  figures 
moving  towards  the  village  at  a  rate  that  sufficiently  in- 
dicated that  they  had  not  only  calculated  the  velocity  of  a 
rifle-bullet,  but  also  its  probable  range. 

"  You've  scared  the  creaturs  off,"  said  Kirby,  with  great 
contempt  expressed  on  his  broad  features ;  "  but  you  are 
not  going  to  scare  me;  so,  Mr.  Bumppo,  down  with  your 
gun,  or  there'll  be  trouble  'twixt  us." 

Natty  dropped  his  rifle,  and  replied, — 

"I  wish  you  no  harm,  Billy  Kirby;  but  I  leave  it  to 
yourself,  whether  an  old  man's  hut  is  to  be  run  down  by 
such  varmint.  I  won't  deny  the  buck  to  you,  Billy,  and 
you  may  take  the  skin  in,  if  you  please,  and  show  it  as 
testimony.  The  bounty  will  pay  the  fine,  and  that  ought 
to  satisfy  any  man." 

"  'Twill,  old  boy,  'twill,"  cried  Kirby,  every  shade  of  dis- 
pleasure vanishing  from  his  open  brow  at  the.  peace-offer- 
ing; "throw  out  the  hide,  and  that  shall  satisfy  the 
law." 

Natty  entered  the  hut,  and  soon  reappeared,  bringing 
with  him  the  desired  testimonial;  and  the  wood-chopper 
departed,  as  thoroughly  reconciled  ta  the  hunter  as  if 
nothing  had  happened.  As  he  paced  along  the  margin  of 
the  lake  he  would  burst  into  frequent  fits  of  laughter, 


3H 


THE  PIONEERS. 


while  he  recollected  the  summerset  of  Hiram;  and,  on  the 
whole,  he  thought  the  affair  a  very  capital  joke. 

Long  before  Billy  reached  the  village,  however,  the  news 
of  his  danger,  and  of  Natty's  disrespect  of  the  law,  and  of 
Hiram's  discomfiture,  were  in  circulation.  A  good  deal 
was  said  about  sending  for  the  Sheriff ;  some  hints  were 
given  about  calling  out  the  posse  comitatus  to  avenge  the 
insulted  laws;  and  many  of  the  citizens  were  collected, 
deliberating  how  to  proceed.  The  arrival  of  Billy  with 
the  skin,  by  removing  all  grounds  for  a  search,  changed 
the  complexion  of  things  materially.  Nothing  now  re- 
mained but  to  collect  the  fine,  and  assert  the  dignity  of 
the  people ;  all  of  which,  it  was  unanimously  agreed,  could 
be  done  as  well  on  the  succeeding  Monday  as  on  Saturday 
night, — a  time  kept  sacred  by  a  large  portion  of  the 
settlers.  Accordingly,  all  further  proceedings  were  sus- 
pended for  six-and-thirty  hours. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

And  dar'st  thou  then 
To  beard  the  lion  in  his  den. 
The  Douglas  in  his  hall? 

Marmion. 

The  commotion  was  just  subsiding,  and  the  inhabitants 
of  the  village  had  begun  to  disperse  from  the  little  groups 
they  had  formed,  each  retiring  to  his  own  home,  and  clos- 
ing his  door  after  him,  with  the  grave  air  of  a  man  who 
consulted  public  feeling  in  his  exterior  deportment,  when 
Oliver  Edwards,  on  his  return  from  the  dwelling  of  Mr. 
Grant,  encountered  the  young  lawyer,  who  is  known  to  the 
reader  as  Mr.  Lippet.  There  was  very  little  similarity  in 
the  manners  or  opinions  of  the  two ;  but  as  they  both  be- 
longed to  the  more  intelligent  class  of  a  very  small  com- 
munity, they  were,  of  course,  known  to  each  other,  and  as 
their  meeting  was  at  a  point  where  silence  would  have 
been  rudeness,  the  following  conversation  was  the  result 
of  their  interview : — 

"A  fine  evening,  Mr.  Edwards,"  commenced  the  lawyer, 
whose  disinclination  to  the  dialogue  was,  to  say  the  least, 
very  doubtful;  "we  want  rain  sadly;  that's  the  worst  of 
this  climate  of  ours,  it's  either  a  drought  or  a  deluge.  ItfjB 
likely  you've  been  used  to  a  more  equal  temperature  ?  n 


THE  PIONEERS. 


3'5 


"I  am  a  native  of  this  State,"  returned  Edwards,  coldly. 

"  Well,  Fve  often  heard  that  point  disputed ;  but  it's  so 
easy  to  get  a  man  naturalized,  that  it's  of  little  conse- 
uence  where  he  was  born.  I  wonder  what  course  the 
udge  means  to  take  in  this  business  of  Natty  Bumppo ! 99 

"Of  Natty  Bumppo ! "  echoed  Edwards;  "to  what  do 
you  allude,  sir  ?  " 

"Haven't  you  heard!"  exclaimed  the  other,  with  a  look 
of  surprise,  so  naturally  assumed,  as  completely  to  deceive 
his  auditor;  "it  may  turn  out  an  ugly  business.  It  seems 
that  the  old  man  has  been  out  in  the  hills,  and  has  shot  a 
buck  this  morning,  and  that,  you  know,  is  a  criminal  mat- 
ter in  the  eyes  of  Judge  Temple." 

"  0 !  he  has,  has  he  ?  "  said  Edwards,  averting  his  face 
to  conceal  the  color  that  collected  in  his  sunburnt  cheek. 
"Well,  if  that  be  all,  he  must  even  pay  the  line." 

"It's  five  pounds  currency,"  said  the  lawyer;  "could 
Natty  muster  so  much  money  at  once  ?  " 

"Could  he!"  cried  the  youth.  "I  am  not  rich,  Mr. 
Lippet ;  far  from  it — I  am  poor,  and  I  have  been  hoarding 
my  salary  for  a  purpose  that  lies  near  my  heart ;  but  be- 
fore that  old  man  should  lie  one  hour  in  a  jail,  I  would 
spend  the  last  cent  to  prevent  it.  Besides,  he  has  killed 
two  panthers,  and  the  bounty  will  discharge  the  fine  many 
times  over." 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  the  lawyer,  rubbing  his  hands  together, 
with  an  expression  of  pleasure  that  had  no  artifice  about 
it;  "we  shall  make  it  out;  I  see  plainly  we  shall  make  it 
out." 

"Make  what  out,  sir  ?    I  must  beg  an  explanation." 

"  Why,  killing  the  buck  is  but  a  small  matter  compared 
to  what  took  place  this  afternoon,"  continued  Mr.  Lippet, 
with  a  confidential  and  friendly  air,  that  insensibly  won 
upon  the  youth,  little  as  he  liked  the  man.  "  It  seems 
that  a  complaint  was  made  of  the  fact,  and  a  suspicion 
that  there  was  venison  in  the  hut  was  sworn  to,  all  which 
is  provided  for  in  the  statute,  when  Judge  Temple  granted 
a  search-warrant " — 

"A  search-warrant!  "  echoed  Edwards,  in  a  voice  of  hor- 
ror, and  with  a  face  that  should  have  been  again  averted 
to  conceal  its  paleness;  "and  how  much  did  they  dis- 
cover ?    What  did  they  see  ?  " 

"  They  saw  old  Bumppo's  rifle ;  and  that  is  a  sight  which 
will  quiet  most  men's  curiosity  in  the  woods," 


316 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"Did  they!  did  they!"  shouted  Edwards,  bursting  into 
a  convulsive  laugh;  "so  the  old  hero  beat  them  back!  he 
beat  them  back !  did  he  ?  " 

The  lawyer  fastened  his  eyes  in  astonishment  on  the 
youth,  but  as  his  wonder  gave  way  to  the  thoughts  that 
were  commonly  uppermost  in  his  mind,  he  replied, — 

"It's  no  laughing  matter,  let  me  tell  you,  sir;  the  forty 
dollars  of  bounty,  and  your  six  months  of  salary,  will  be 
much  reduced  before  you  can  get  the  matter  fairly  settled. 
Assaulting  a  magistrate  in  the  execution  of  his  duty, 
and  menacing  a  constable  with  fire-arms  at  the  same  time, 
is  a  pretty  serious  affair,  and  is  punishable  with  both  fine 
and  imprisonment." 

^"Imprisonment!"  repeated  Oliver;  "imprison  the 
Leather-Stocking!  no,  no,  sir;  it  would  bring  the  old  man 
to  his  grave.  They  shall  never  imprison  the  Leather- 
Stocking." 

"  Well,  Mr.  Edwards,"  said  Lippet,  dropping  all  reserve 
from  his  manner,  "you  are  called  a  curious  man;  but  if 
you  can  tell  me  how  a  jury  is  to  be  prevented  from  finding 
a  verdict  of  guilty,  if  this  case  comes  fairly  before  them, 
and  the  proof  is  clear,  I  shall  acknowledge  that  you  know 
more  law  than  I  do,  who  have  had  a  license  in  my  pocket 
for  three  years." 

By  this  time  the  reason  of  Edwards  was  getting  the  as- 
cendency of  his  feelings,  and  as  he  began  to  see  the  real 
difficulties  of  the  case,  he  listened  more  readily  to  the  con- 
versation of  the  lawyer.  The  ungovernable  emotion  that 
escaped  the  youth,  in  the  first  moments  of  his  surprise, 
entirely  passed  away;  and  although  it  was  still  evident 
that  he  continued  to  be  much  agitated  by  what  he  had 
heard,  he  succeeded  in  yielding  forced  attention  to  the 
advice  which  the  other  uttered. 

Notwithstanding  the  confused  state  of  his  mind,  Oliver 
soon  discovered  that  most  of  the  expedients  of  the  lawyer 
were  grounded  in  cunning,  and  plans  that  required  a  time 
to  execute  them  that  neither  suited  his  disposition  nor  his 
necessities.  After,  however,  giving  Mr.  Lippet  to  under- 
stand that  he  retained  him  in  the  event  of  a  trial,  an  as- 
surance that  at  once  satisfied  the  lawyer,  they  parted,  one 
taking  his  course,  with  a  deliberate  tread,  in  the  direction 
of  the  little  building  that  had  a  wooden  sign  over  its  door, 
with  "Chester  Lippet,  Attorney  at  Law,"  painted  on  it; 
and  the  other  pacing  over  the  ground  with  enormous 


THE  PIONEERS. 


strides  towards  the  Mansion-house.  We  shall  take  leave; 
of  the  attorney  for  the  present,  and  direct  the  attention  of 
the  reader  to  his  client. 

When  Edwards  entered  the  hall,  whose  enormous  doors 
were  opened  to  the  passage  of  the  air  of  a  mild  evening, 
he  found  Benjamin  engaged  in  some  of  his  domestic  avo- 
cations, and  in  a  hurried  voice  inquired  where  Judge 
Temple  was  to  be  found. 

"Why,  the  Judge  has  stept  into  his  office,  with  that 
master  carpenter,  Mister  Doolittle;  but  Miss  Lizzy  is  in 
that  there  parlor.  I  say,  Master  Oliver,  we'd  like  to  have 
had  a  bad  job  of  that  panther,  or  painter's  work — some 
calls  it  one,  and  some  calls  it  t'other— but  I  know  little  of 
the  beast,  seeing  that  it  is  not  of  British  growth.  I  said 
as  much  as  that  it  was  in  the  hills  the  last  winter;  for  I 
heard  it  moaning  on  the  lake  shore  one  evening  in  the 
fall,  when  I  was  pulling  down  from  the  fishing  point  in 
the  skiff.  Had  the  animal  come  into  open  water,  where  a 
man  could  see  where  and  how  to  work  his  vessel,  I  would 
have  engaged  the  thing  myself;  but  looking  aloft  among 
the  trees  is  all  the  same  to  me  as  standing  on  the  deck  of 
one  ship,  and  looking  at  another  vessel's  tops.  I  never 
can  tell  one  rope  from  another  " — 

"  Well  well,"  interrupted  Edwards ;  "  I  must  see  Miss 
Temple." 

"And  you  shall  see  her,  sir,"  said  the 'steward;  "she's  in 
this  here  room.  Lord,  Master  Edwards,  what  a  loss  she'd 
have  been  to  the  Judge !  Dam'me  if  I  know  where  he 
would  have  gotten  such  another  daughter;  that  is,  full 
grown,  d'ye  see.  I  say,  sir,  this  Master  Bumppo  is  a 
worthy  man,  and  seems  to  have  a  handy  way  with  him, 
with  fire-arms  and  boat-hooks.  I'm  his  friend,  Master 
Oliver,  and  he  and  you  may  both  set  me  down  as  the 
same." 

"We  may  want  your  friendship,  my  worthy  fellow," 
cried  Edwards,  squeezing  his  hand  convulsively :  "  we  may 
want  your  friendship,  in  which  case  you  shall  know  it." 

Without  waiting  to  hear  the  earnest  reply  that  Benja- 
min meditated,  the  youth  extricated  himself  from  the 
vigorous  grasp  of  the  steward,  and  entered  the  parlor. 

Elizabeth  was  alone,  and  still  reclining  on  the  sofa, 
where  we  last  left  her.  A  hand,  which  exceeded  all  that 
the  ingenuity  of  art  could  model,  in  shape  and  color, 
veiled  her  eyes;  and  the  maiden  was  sitting  as  if  in  deep 


3i« 


THE  PIONEERS. 


communion  with  herself.  Struck  by  the  attitude  and 
loveliness  of  the  form  that  met  his  eye,  the  young  man 
checked  his  impatience,  and  approached  her  with  respect 
and  caution. 

"Miss  Temple — Miss  Temple,"  he  said,  "I  hope  I  do 
not  intrude;  but  I  am  anxious  for  an  interview,  if  it  be 
only  for  a  moment." 

Elizabeth  raised  her  face,  and  exhibited  her  dark  eyes 
swimming  in  moisture. 

"  Is  it  you,  Edwards  ?  "  she  said,  with  a  sweetness  in  her 
voice,  and  a  softness  in  her  air,  that  she  often  used  to  her 
father,  but  which,  from  its  novelty  to  himself,  thrilled  on 
every  nerve  of  the  youth;  "how  left  you  our  poor 
Louisa  ?  " 

"  She  is  with  her  father,  happy  and  grateful,"  said 
Oliver.  "  I  never  witnessed  more  feeling  than  she  mani- 
fested, when  I  ventured  to  express  my  pleasure  at  her 
escape.  Miss  Temple,  when  I  first  heard  of  your  horrid 
situation,  my  feelings  were  too  powerful  for  utterance; 
and  I  did  not  properly  find  my  tongue,  until  the  walk  to 
Mr.  Grant's  had  given  me  time  to  collect  myself.  I  be- 
lieve— I  do  believe,  I  acquitted  myself  better  there,  for 
Miss  Grant  even  wept  at  my  silly  speeches." 

For  a  moment  Elizabeth  did  not  reply,  but  again  veiled 
her  eyes  with  her  hand.  The  feeling  that  caused  the 
action,  however,  soon  passed  away,  and,  raising  her  face 
again  to  his  gaze,  she  continued,  with  a  smile, — 

"  Your  friend,  the  Leather-Stocking,  has  now  become 
my  friend,  Edwards;  I  have  been  thinking  how  I  can  best 
serve  him;  perhaps  you,  who  know  his  habits  and  his 
wants  so  well,  can  tell  me  " — 

"I  can,"  cried  the  youth,  with  an  impetuosity  that 
startled  his  companion,  "  I  can,  and  may  Heaven  reward 
you  for  the  wish.  Natty  has  been  so  imprudent  as  to  for- 
get the  law,  and  has  this  day  killed  a  deer.  Nay,  I  believe 
I  must  share  in  the  crime  and  the  penalty,  for  I  was  an 
accomplice  throughout.  A  complaint  has  been  made  to 
your  father  and  he  has  granted  a  search  " — 

"  I  know  it  all,"  interrupted  Elizabeth ;  "  I  know  it  all. 
The  forms  of  the  law  must  be  complied  with,  however; 
the  search  must  be  made,  the  deer  found,  and  the  penalty 
paid.  But  I  must  retort  your  own  question.  Have  you 
lived  so  long  in  our  family  not  to  know  us  ?  Look  at  me, 
Oliver  Edwards.    Do  I  appear  like  one  who  would  permit 


THE  PIONEERS. 


V9 


the  man  that  has  just  saved  her  life  to  linger  in  a  jail  for 
so  small  a  sum  as  this  fine?  No,  no,  sir;  my  father  is  a 
judge,  but  he  is  a  man  and  a  Christian.  It  is  all  under- 
stood, and  no  harm  shall  follow/"' 

"  What  a  load  of  apprehension  do  your  declarations  re- 
move! "  exclaimed  Edwards.  "  lie  shall  not  be  disturbed 
again!  your  father  will  protect  him!  I  have  your  as- 
surance, Miss  Temple,  that  he  will,  and  I  must  believe  it." 

u  You  may  have  his  own,  Mr.  Edwards/'  returned  Eliza- 
beth, "  for  here  he  comes  to  make  it." 

But  the  appearance  of  Marmaduke,  who  entered  the 
apartment,  contradicted  the  flattering  anticipations  of  his 
daughter.  His  brow  was  contracted,  and  his  manner  dis- 
turbed. Neither  Elizabeth  nor  the  youth  spoke ;  but  the 
Judge  was  allowed  to  pace  once  or  twice  across  the  room 
without  interruption,  when  he  cried, — 

"Our  plans  are  defeated,  girl;  the  obstinacy  of  the 
Leather-Stocking  has  brought  down  the  indignation  of  the 
law  on  his  head,  and  it  is  now  out  of  my  power  to  avert  it." 

ff  How  ?  in  what  manner  ?  "  cried  Elizabeth ;  "  the  fine 
is  nothing ;  surely  " — 

"  I  did  not — I  could  not  anticipate  that  an  old.  a  friend- 
less man  like  him,  would  dare  to  oppose  the  officers  of 
justice,"  interrupted  the  Judge;  "I  supposed  that  he 
would  submit  to  the  search,  when  the  fine  could  have  been 
paid,  and  the  law  would  have  been  appeased ;  but  now  he 
will  have  to  meet  its  rigor." 

"And  what  must  the  punishment  be,  sir  ? "  asked  Ed- 
wards, struggling  to  speak  with  firmness. 

Marmaduke  turned  quickly  to  the  spot  where  the  youth 
had  withdrawn,  and  exclaimed, — 

"  You  here !  I  did  not  observe  you.  I  know  not  what 
it  will  be  sir;  it  is  not  usual  for  a  judge  to  decide,  until 
he  has  heard  the  testimony,  and  the  jury  have  convicted. 
Of  one  thing,  however,  you  may  be  assured,  Mr.  Edwards; 
it  shall  be  whatever  the  law  demands,  notwithstanding  any 
momentary  weakness  I  may  have  exhibited,  because  the 
luckless  man  has  been  of  such  eminent  service  to  my 
daughter." 

"No  one,  I  believe,  doubts  the  sense  of  justice  which 
Judge  Temple  entertains!"  returned  Edwards  bitterly. 
"  But  let  us  converse  calmly,  sir.  Will  not  the  years,  the 
habits,  nay,  the  ignorance  of  my  old  friend,  avail  him  any- 
thing against  this  charge  ?  " 


320 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  Ought  they  ?  They  may  extenuate,  but  can  they 
acquit?  Would  any  society  be  tolerable,  young  man, 
where  the  ministers  of  justice  are  to  be  opposed  by  men 
armed  with  rifles  ?  Is  it  for  this  that  I  have  tamed  the 
wilderness  ?  " 

"  Had  you  tamed  the  beasts  that  so  lately  threatened  the 
life  of  Miss  Temple,  sir,  your  arguments  would  apply  bet- 
ter." 

"  Edwards !  "  exclaimed  Elizabeth. 

"  Peace,  my  child,"  interrupted  the  father ;  "  the  youth 
is  unjust;  but  I  have  not  given  him  cause.  I  overlook  thy 
remark,  Oliver,  for  I  know  thee  to  be  the  friend  of  Natty, 
and  zeal  in  his  behalf  has  overcome  thy  discretion." 

"  Yes,  he  is  my  friend,"  cried  Edwards,  "  and  I  glory  in 
the  title.  He  is  simple,  unlettered,  even  ignorant :  preju- 
diced, perhaps,  though  I  feel  that  his  opinion  of  the  world 
is  too  true ;  but  he  has  a  heart,  Judge  Temple,  that  would 
atone  for  a  thousand  faults;  he  knows  his  friends,  and 
never  deserts  them,  even  if  it  be  his  dog." 

"This  is  a  good  character,  Mr.  Edwards,"  returned 
Marmaduke,  mildly ;  "  but  I  have  never  been  so  fortunate 
as  to  secure  his  esteem,  for  to  me  he  has  been  uniformly 
repulsive;  yet  I  have  endured  it  as  an  old  man's  whim. 
However,  when  he  appears  before  me,  as  his  judge,  he 
shall  find  that  his  former  conduct  shall  not  aggravate,  any 
more  than  his  recent  services  shall  extenuate,  his  crime." 

"  Crime ! "  echoed  Edwards ;  "  is  it  a  crime  to  drive  a 
prying  miscreant  from  his  door?  Crime!  0,  no,  sir;  if 
there  be  a  criminal  involved  in  this  affair,  it  is  not  he/ 

"And  who  may  it  be,  sir  ?  "  asked  Judge  Temple,  facing 
the  agitated  youth,  his  features  settled  to  their  usual  com- 
posure. 

This  appeal  was  more  than  the  young  man  could  bear. 
Hitherto  he  had  been  deeply  agitated  by  his  emotions; 
but  now  the  volcano  burst  its  boundaries. 

"Who!  and  this  to  me!"  he  cried;  "ask your  own  con- 
science, Judge  Temple.  Walk  to  that  door,  sir,  and  look 
out  upon  the  valley,  that  placid  lake,  and  those  dusky 
mountains,  and  say  to  your  own  heart,  if  heart  you  have, 
whence  came  these  riches,  this  vale,  those  hills,  and  why 
am  I  their  owner  ?  I  should  think,  sir,  that  the  appear- 
ance of  Mohegan  and  the  Leather-Stocking,  stalking 
through  the  country,  impoverished  and  forlorn,  would 
wither  your  sight." 


THE  PIONEERS. 


321 


Marmaduke  heard  this  burst  of  passion,  at  first,  with 
deep  amazement:  but  when  the  youth  had  ended,  he 
beckoned  to  his  impatient  daughter  for  silence,  and  re- 
plied,—  .  . 

"  Oliver  Edwards,  thou  forgettest  in  whose  presence  thou 
standest.  I  have  heard,  young  man,  that  thou  claimest 
descent  from  the  native  owners  of  the  soil;  but  surely  thy 
education  has  been  given  thee  to  no  effect,  if  it  has  not 
taught  thee  the  validity  of  the  claims  that  have  transferred 
the  title  to  the  whites.  These  lands  are  mine  by  the  very 
grants  of  thy  ancestry,  if  thou  art  so  descended;  and  I  ap- 
peal to  Heaven  for  a  testimony  of  the  uses  I  have  put 
them  to.  After  this  language,  we  must  separate.  I  have 
too  long  sheltered  thee  in  my  dwelling;  but  the  time  has 
arrived  when  thou  must  quit  it.  Come  to  my  office,  and  I 
will  discharge  the  debt  I  owe  thee.  Neither  shall  thy 
present  intemperate  language  mar  thy  future  fortunes,  if 
thou  wilt  hearken  to  the  advice  of  one  who  is  by  many 
years  thy  senior  " 

The  ungovernable  feeling  that  caused  the  violence  oi  the 
youth  had  passed  away,  and  he  stood  gazing  after  the  re- 
tiring figure  of  Marmaduke,  with  a  vacancy  in  his  eye  that 
denoted  the  absence  of  his  mind.  At  length  he  recollected 
himself,  and,  turning  his  head  slowly  around  the  apartment, 
he  beheld  Elizabeth,  still  seated  on  the  sofa,  but  with  her 
head  dropped  on  her  bosom,  and  her  face  again  concealed 
by  her  hands. 

«  Miss  Temple,"  he  said— all  violence  had  left  his  man- 
ner—" Miss  Temple,  I  have  forgotten  myself— forgotten 
you.  You  have  heard  what  your  father  has  decreed,  and 
this  night  I  leave  here.  With  you,  at  least,  I  would  part 
in  amity." 

Elizabeth  slowly  raised  her  face,  across  which  a  momen- 
tary expression  of  sadness  stole ;  but  as  she  left  her  seat, 
her  dark  eyes  lighted  with  their  usual  fire,  her  cheek 
flushed  to  burning,  and  her  whole  air  seemed  to  belong  to 
another  nature. 

"  I  forgive  you,  Edwards,  and  my  father  will  forgive 
you,"  she  said,  when  she  reached  the  door.  "  You  do  not 
know  us,  but  the  time  may  come,  when  your  opinions 
shall  change  " — 

"  Of  you !  never !  "  interrupted  the  youth ;  "  I  — 

"  I  would  speak,  sir,  and  not  listen.  There  is  something 
in  this  affair  that  I  do  not  comprehend;  but  tell  the 
11 


322 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Leather-Stocking  he  has  friends  as  well  as  judges  in  us. 
Do  not  let  the  old  man  experience  unnecessary  uneasiness 
at  this  rupture.  It  is  impossible  that  you  could  increase 
his  claims  here;  neither  shall  they  be  diminished  by  any- 
thing you  have  said.  Mr.  Edwards,  I  wish  you  happiness, 
and  warmer  friends." 

The  youth  would  have  spoken,  but  she  vanished  from 
the  door  so  rapidly,  that  when  he  reached  the  hall  her 
form  was  nowhere  to  be  seen.  lie  paused  a  moment,  in 
stupor,  and  then,  rushing  from  the  house,  instead  of  fol- 
lowing Marmaduke  to  his  "  office,"  he  took  his  way  directly 
for  the  cabin  of  the  hunters, 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

^ho  measured  earth,  described  the  starry  spheres, 

And  traced  the  long  records  of  lunar  years.  Pope. 

Richard  did  not  return  from  the  exercise  of  his  official 
duties,  until  late  in  the  evening  of  the  following  day.  It 
had  been  one  portion  of  his  business  to  superintend  the 
arrest  of  part  of  a  gang  of  counterfeiters,  that  had,  even  at 
that  early  period,  buried  themselves  in  the  woods,  to  man- 
ufacture their  base  coin,  which  they  afterwards  circulated 
from  one  end  of  the  Union  to  the  other.  The  expedition 
had  been  completely  successful,  and  about  midnight  the 
Sheriff  entered  the  village,  at  the  head  of  a  posse  of  depu- 
ties and  constables,  in  the  centre  of  whom  rode,  pinioned, 
four  of  the  malefactors.  At  the  gate  of  the  Mansion-house 
they  separated,  Mr.  Jones  directing  his  assistants  to  ])ro- 
ceed  with  their  charge  to  the  county  jail,  while  he  pursued 
his  own  way  up  the  graveled  walk,  with  the  kind  of  self- 
satisfaction  that  a  man  of  his  organization  would  feel,  who 
had  really,  for  once,  done  a  very  clever  thing. 

"Holla!  Aggy!"  shouted  the  Sheriff,  when  he  reached 
the  door;  "where  are  you,  you  black  dog?  will  you  keep 
me  here  in  the  dark  all  night?  Holla!  Aggy!  Brave! 
Brave !  hoy,  hoy — where  have  you  got  to,  Brave  ?  Off  his 
watch!  Everybody  is  asleep  but  myself!  poor  I  must 
keep  my  eyes  open,  that  others  maV  sleep  in  safety. 
Brave!  Brave!  Well,  I  will  say  this  for  the  dog,  lazy  as 
he's  grown,  that  it  is  the  first  time  I  ever  knew  him  let 


THE  PIONEERS. 


323 


any  one  come  to  the  door  after  dark,  without  having  a 
smell  to  know  whether  it  was  an  honest  man  or  not.  He 
could  tell  by  his  nose,  almost  as  well  as  I  could  myself  by 
looking  at  them.  Holla!  you  Agamemnon!  where  are 
you  ?    0 !  here  comes  the  dog  at  last." 

By  this  time  the  Sheriff  had  dismounted,  and  observed 
a  form,  which  he  supposed  to  be  that  of  Brave,  slowly 
creeping  out  of  the  kennel;  when,  to  his  astonishment,  it 
reared  itself  on  two  legs  instead  of  four,  and  he  was  able 
to  distinguish,  by  the  starlight,  the  curly  head  and  dark, 
visage  of  the  negro. 

"  Ha!  what  the  devil  are  you  doing  there,  you  black  ras- 
cal?" he  cried;  "is  it  not  hot  enough  for  your  Guinea 
blood  in  the  house,  this  warm  night,  but  you  must  drive 
out  the  poor  dog  and  sleep  in  his  straw  ?  " 

By  this  time  the  boy  was  quite  awake,  and,  with  a  blub- 
bering whine,  he  attempted  to  reply  to  his  master. 

"0!  Masser  Eichard!  Masser  Richard!  such  a  ting! 
such  a  ting!  I  nebber  tink  a  could  'appen!  nebber  tink 
he  die !  0,  Lor-a-gor !  ain't  bury— keep  'em  till  Masser 
Richard  get  back— got  a  grabe  dug"— 

Here  the  feelings  of  the  negro  completely  got  the  mas- 
tery, and  instead  of  making  any  intelligible  explanation 
•of  the  causes  of  his  grief,  he" blubbered  aloud, 

"  Eh !  what !  buried !  grave !  dead ! "  exclaimed  Richard, 
with  a  tremor  in  his  voice ;  "  nothing  serious  ?  Nothing 
has  happened  to  Benjamin,  I  hope !  I  know  he  has  been 
bilious ;  but  I  gave  him  " — 

"  0 !  worser  'an  dat !  worser  an'  dat ! "  sobbed  the  negro. 
"0!  de  Lor!  Miss  Lizzy  an'  Miss  Grant — walk — moun- 
tain—poor Bravy!— kill  a  lady— painter— 0!  Lor,  Lor!— 
Natty  Bumppo — tare  he  troat  open— come  a  see,  Masser 
Richard — here  he  be — here  he  be." 

As  all  this  was  perfectly  inexplicable  to  the  Sheriff,  he 
was  very  glad  to  wait  patiently  until  the  black  brought  a 
lantern  from  the  kitchen,  when  he  followed  Aggy  to  the 
kennel,  where  he  beheld  poor  Brave,  indeed,  lying  in  his 
blood,  stiff  and  cold,  but  decently  covered  with  the  great 
coat  of  the  negro.  He  was  on  the  point  of  demanding  an 
explanation ;  but  the  grief  of  the  black,  who  had  fallen 
asleep  on  his  voluntary  watch,  having  burst  out  afresh  on 
his  waking,  utterly  disqualified  the  lad  from  giving  one. 
Luckily,  at  this  moment  the  principal  door  of  the  house 
opened,  and  the  coarse  features  of  Benjamin  were  thrust 


324 


THE  PIONEERS. 


over  the  threshold,  with  a  candle  elevated  above  them, 
shedding  its  dim  rays  around  in  such  a  manner  as  to  ex- 
hibit the  lights  and  shadows  of  his  countenance.  Richard 
threw  his  bridle  to  the  black,  and  bidding  him  look  to  the 
horse,  he  entered  the  hall. 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  the  dead  dog?"  he  cried. 
"  Where  is  Miss  Temple  ?  " 

Benjamin  made  one  of  his  square  gestures,  with  the 
thumb  of  his  left  hand  pointing  over  his  right  shoulder, 
as  he  answered, — 

"  Turned  in." 

"  Judge  Temple — where  is  he  ?  " 
"In  his  berth." 

"  But  explain ;  why  is  Brave  dead  ?  and  what  is  the 
cause  of  Aggy's  grief  ?  " 

"  Why,  it's  all  down,  Squire,"  said  Benjamin,  pointing 
to  a  slate  that  lay  on  the  table,  by  the  side  of  a  mug  of 
toddy,  a  short  pipe,  in  which  the  tobacco  was  yet  burning, 
and  a  prayer-book. 

Among  the  other  pursuits  of  Richard,  he  had  a  passion 
to  keep  a  register  of  all  passing  events;  and  his  diary, 
which  was  written  in  the  manner  of  a  journal,  or  log-book, 
embraced  not  only  such  circumstances  as  affected  himself, 
but  observations  on  the  weather,  and  all  the  occurrences 
of  the  family,  and  frequently  of  the  village.  Since  his  ap- 
pointment to  the  office  of '  Sheriff,  and  his  consequent  ab- 
sences from  home,  he  had  employed  Benjamin  to  make 
memoranda,  on  a  slate,  of  whatever  might  be  thought 
worth  remembering,  which,  on  his  return,  were  regularly 
transferred  to  the  journal,  with  proper  notations  of  the 
time,  manner,  and  other  little  particulars.  There  was,  to 
be  sure,  one  material  objection  to  the  clerkship  of  Benja- 
min, which  the  ingenuity  of  no  one  but  Richard  could 
have  overcome.  The  steward  read  nothing  but  his  prayer- 
book,  and  that  only  in  particular  parts,  and  by  the  aid  of 
a  good  deal  of  spelling,  and  some  misnomers;  but  he  could 
not  form  a  single  letter  with  a  pen.  This  would  have  been 
an  insuperable  bar  to  journalizing,  with  most  men ;  but 
Richard  invented  a  kind  of  hieroglyphical  character, 
which  was  intended  to  note  all  the  ordinary  occurrences  of 
the  day,  such  as  how  the  wind  blew,  whether  the  sun 
shone,  or  whether  it  rained,  the  hours,  etc. ;  and  for  the 
extraordinary,  after  giving  certain  elementary  lectures  on 
the  subject,  the  Sheriff  was  obliged  to  trust  to  the  ingen- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


uity  of  the  major-domo.  The  reader  will  at  once  perceive, 
that  it  was  to  this  chronicle  that  Benjamin  pointed,  in- 
stead of  directly  answering  the  Sheriff's  interrogatory. 

When  Mr.  Jones  had  drnnk  a  glass  of  toddy,  he  brought 
forth,  from  its  secret  place,  his  proper  journal,  and,  seat- 
ing himself  by  the  table,  he  prepared  to  transfer  the  con- 
tents of  the  slate  to  the  paper,  at  the  same  time  that  he 
appeased  his  curiosity.  Benjamin  laid  one  hand  on  the 
back  of  the  Sheriff's  chair,  in  a  familiar  manner,  while  he 
kept  the  other  at  liberty,  to  make  use  of  a  forefinger,  that 
was  bent  like  some  of  his  own  characters,  as  an  index  to 
point  out  his  meaning. 

The  first  thing  referred  to  by  the  Sheriff  was  the  dia- 
gram of  a  compass,  cut  in  one  corner  of  the  slate  for  per- 
manent use.  The  cardinal  points  were  plainly  marked  on 
it,  and  all  the  usual  divisions  were  indicated  in  such#  a 
manner,  that  no  man  who  ever  steered  a  ship  could  mis- 
take them. 

"  0  V '  said  the  Sheriff,  settling  himself  down  comforta- 
bly in  his  chair,  "you'd  the  wind  southeast,  I  see,  all  last 
night;  I  thought  it  would  have  blown  up  rain." 

"Devil  the  drop,  sir/'  said  Benjamin;  "I  believe  that 
the  scuttle-butt  up  aloft  is  emptied,  for  there  hasn't  so 
much  water  fell  in  the  country,  for  the  last  three  weeks, 
as  would  float  Indian  John's  canoe,  and  that  draws  just 
one  inch  nothing,  light/' 

"  Well,  but  didn't  the  wind  change  here  this  morning  ? 
there  was  a  change  where  I  was." 

"To  be  sure  it  did,  Squire;  and  haven't  I  logged  it  as  a 
shift  of  wind." 

"  I  don't  see  where,  Benjamin  " — 

"Don't  see!"  interrupted  the  steward,  a  little  crustily; 
"ain't  there  a  mark  ag'in  east-and-by-nothe-half-nothe, 
with  sum'mat  like  a  rising  sun  at  the  end  of  it,  to  show 
'twas  in  the  morning  watch  ?  " 

"Yes,  yes,  that  is  very  legible;  but  where  is  the  change 
noted?" 

"  Where !  why  doesn't  it  see  this  here  tea-kettle,  with  a 
mark  run  from  the  spout  straight,  or  mayhap  a  little 
crooked  or  so,  into  west-and-by-southe-half-southe  ?  now 
I  call  this  a  shift  of  wind,  Squire.  Well,  do  you  see  this 
here  boar's  head  that  you  made  for  me,  alongside  of  the 
compass  " — 

"Aye,  aye — Boreas — I  see.    Why  you've  drawn  lines 


326 


THE  PIONEERS. 


from  its  mouth,  extending  from  one  of  your  marks  to  the 
other." 

"  It's  no  fault  of  mine,  Squire  Dickens !  'tis  your  d  d 

climate.  The  wind  has  been  at  all  them  there  marks  this 
very  day,  and  that's  all  round  the  compass,  except  a  little 
matter  of  an  Irishman's  hurricane  at  meridium,  which 
you'll  find  marked  right  up  and  down.  Now,  I've  known 
a  sou'wester  blow  for  three  weeks,  in  the  channel,  with  a 
clean  drizzle,  in  which  you  might  wash  your  face  ^nd 
hands,  without  the  trouble  of  hauling  in  water  from 
alongside." 

"  Very  well,  Benjamin,"  said  the  Sheriff,  writing  in  his 
journal;  "I  believe  I  have  caught  the  idea.  0!  here's  a 
cloud  over  the  rising  sun;  so  you  had  it  hazy  in  the  morn- 
ing?" 

"Aye,  aye,  sir,"  said  Benjamin. 

"Ah !  it's  Sunday,  and  here  are  the  marks  for  the  length 
of  the  sermon — one,  two,  three,  four :  what !  did  Mr.  Grant 
preach  forty  minutes  ?  " 

"Aye,  sum'mat  like  it;  it  was  a  good  half-hour  by  my 
own  glass,  and  then  there  was  the  time  lost  in  turning  it, 
and  some  little  allowance  for  leeway  in  not  being  over 
smart  about  it." 

"  Benjamin,  this  is  as  long  as  a  Presbyterian ;  you  never 
could  have  been  ten  minutes  in  turning  the  glass! " 

"  Why,  do  you  see,  Squire,  the  parson  was  very  solemn, 
and  I  just  closed  my  eyes  in  order  to  think  the  better  with 
myself,  just  the  same  as  you'd  put  in  the  dead-lights  to 
make  all  snug,  and  when  I  opened  them  ag'in  I  found  the 
congregation  were  getting  under  way  for  home,  so  1  calcu- 
lated the  ten  minutes  would  cover  the  leeway  after  the 
glass  was  out.  It  was  only  some  such  matter  as  a  cat's 
nap." 

"0,  ho!  Master  Benjamin,  you  were  asleep,  were  you! 
but  I'll  set  down  no  such  slander  against  an  orthodox 
divine."  Kichard  wrote  twenty-nine  minutes  in  his  jour- 
nal, and  continued :  "  AVhy,  what's  this  you've  got  opposite 
ten  o'clock  a.  m.?  A  full  moon!  had  you  a  moon  visible 
by  day!  I  have  heard  of  such  portents  before  now,  but — 
eh!  what's  this  alongside  of  it  ?  an  hour-glass  ?  " 

"  That !  "  said  Benjamin,  looking  coolly  over  the  Sheriff's 
shoulder,  and  rolling  the  tobacco  about  in  his  mouth  with 
a  jocular  air;  "why,  that's  a  small  matter  of  my  own.  It's 
no  moon,  Squire,  but  only  Betty  Ilollister's  face;  for,  d'yo 


THE  PIONEERS. 


327 


see,  sir,  hearing  all  the  same  as  if  she  had  got  up  a  new 
cargo  of  Jamaiky  from  the  river,  I  called  in  as  I  was  going 
to  the  church  this  morning — ten  a.  m.  was  it? — just  the 
time — and  tried  a  glass;  and  so  I  logged  it,  to  put  me  in 
mind  of  calling  to  pay  her  like  an  honest  man." 

"  That  was  it,  was  it  ?  "  said  the  Sheriff,  with  some  dis- 
pleasure at  this  innovation  on  his  memoranda;  "and  could 
you  not  make  a  better  glass  than  this  ?  it  looks  like  a 
death's  head  and  an  hour-glass." 

"  Why,  as  I  liked  the  stuff,  Squire/'  returned  the  stew- 
ard, "  I  turned  in,  homeward  bound,  and  took  t'other 
glass,  which  I  set  down  at  the  bottom  of  the  first,  and  that 
gives  the  thing  the  shape  it  has.  But  as  I  was  there 
again  to-night,  and  paid  for  the  three  at  once,  your  honor 
may  as  well  run  the  sponge  over  the  whole  business." 

"  I  will  buy  you  a  slate  for  your  own  affairs,  Benjamin," 
said  the  Sheriff;  "I  don't  like  to  have  the  journal  marked 
over  in  this  manner." 

"You  needn't, — you  needn't,  Squire;  for  seeing  that  I 
/as  likely  to  trade  often  with  the  woman  while  this  barrel 
lasted  I've  opened  a  fair  account  with  Betty,  and  she  keeps 
her  marks  on  the  back  of  her  bar  door  and  I  keeps  the  tally 
on  this  here  bit  of  a  stick." 

As  Benjamin  concluded  he  produced  a  piece  of  wood, 
on  which  five  very  large,  honest  notches  were  apparent. 
The  Sheriff  cast  his  eyes  on  this  new  ledger  for  a  moment, 
and  continued, — 

"  What  have  we  here !  Saturday,  two  p.  m. — why,  here's 
a  whole  family  piece!  two  wine-glasses  upside  down!  " 

"That's  two  women;  the  one  this-away  is  Miss  Lizzy, 
and  t'other  is  the  parson's  young'un." 

"Cousin  Bess  and  Miss  Grant!"  exclaimed  the  Sheriff, 
in  amazement;  "what  have  they  to  do  with  my  journal  ?" 

"  They'd  enough  to  do  to  get  out  of  the  jaws  of  that 
there  painter,  or  panther,"  said  the  immovable  steward. 
"  This  here  thingum'y,  Squire,  that  may  be  looks  sum'mat 
like  a  rat,  is  the  beast,  dy'e  see;  and  this  here  t'other 
thing,  keel  uppermost,  is  poor  old  Brave,  who  died  nobly, 
all  the  same  as  an  admiral  fighting  for  his  king  and  coun- 
try :  and  that  there  " — 

"  Scarecrow,"  interrupted  Richard. 

"Aye,  mayhap  it  do  look  a  little  wild  or  so,"  continued 
the  steward:  "but  to  my  judgment,  Squire,  it's  the  best 
image  I've  made,  seeing  it's  most  like  the  man  himself; 


328 


THE  PIONEERS. 


well  that's  Natty  Bumppo,  who  shot  this  here  painter,  that 
killed  that  there  dog,  who  would  have  eaten  or  done  worse 
to  them  here  young  ladies." 

"And  what  the  devil  does  all  this  mean  ?  "  cried  Rich- 
ard,  impatiently. 

"  Mean !  "  echoed  Benjamin :  "  it  is  as  true  as  the  Boad- 
ishey's  log-book  " — 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  Sheriff,  who  put  a  few  direct 
questions  to  him,  that  obtained  more  intelligible  answers, 
by  which  means  he  became  possessed  of  a  tolerably  correct 
idea  of  the  truth.  When  the  wonder,  and,  we  must  do 
Eichard  the  justice  to  say,  the  feelings  also,  that  were 
created  by  this  narrative,  had  in  some  degree  subsided,  the 
Sheriff  turned  his  eyes  again  on  his  journal,  where  more 
inexplicable  hieroglyphics  met  his  view. 

"What  have  we  here!"  he  cried;  "two  men  boxing! 
has  there  been  a  breach  of  the  peace  ?  ah,  that's  the  way, 
the  moment  my  back  is  turned  " — 

"  That's  the  Judge  and  young  Master  Edwards,"  inter- 
rupted the  steward,  very  cavalierly. 

"  How !  'Duke  fighting  with  Oliver !  what  the  devil  has 
got  into  you  all  ?  more  things  have  happened  within  the 
last  thirty-six  hours  than  in  the  preceding  six  months." 

"Yes,  it's  so  indeed,  Squire,"  returned  the  steward; 
"  I've  known  a  smart  chase,  and  a  fight  at  the  tail  of  it, 
where  less  has  been  logged  than  I've  got  on  that  there 
slate.  Howsomnever,  they  didn't  come  to  facers,  only 
passed  a  little  jaw  fore  and  aft." 

"Explain!  explain!"  cried  Richard:  " it  was  about  the 
mines,  ha!  aye,  aye,  I  see  it;  here  is  a  man  with  a  pick  on 
his  shoulder.    So  you  heard  it  all,  Benjamin  ?  " 

"  Why,  yes,  it  was  about  their  minds,  I  believe,  Squire," 
returned  the  steward;  "and  by  what  I  can  learn,  they 
spoke  them  pretty  plainly  to  one  another.  Indeed,  I  may 
say  that  I  overheard  a  small  matter  of  it  myself,  seeing 
that  the  windows  was  open,  and  I  hard  by.  But  this  here 
is  no  pick,  but  an  anchor  on  a  man's  shoulder ;  and  here's 
the  other  fluke  down  his  back,  maybe  a  little  too  close, 
which  signifies  that  the  lad  has  got  under  way  and  left  his 
moorings." 

"  Has  Edwards  left  the  house  ?  " 

"He  has." 

Richard  pursued  this  advantage;  and,  after  a  long  and 
close  examination,  he  succeeded  in  getting  out  of  Benja- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


min  all  that  he  knew,  not  only  concerning  the  misunder- 
standing, but  of  the  attempt  to  search  the  hut,  and 
Hiram's  discomfiture.  The  Sheriff  was  no  sooner  possessed 
of  these  facts,  which  Benjamin  related  with  all  possible 
tenderness  to  the  Leather-Stocking,  than,  snatching  up 
his  hat,  and  bidding  the  astonished  steward  secure  the 
doors  and  go  to  his  bed,  he  left  the  house. 

For  at  least  five  minutes  after  Kichard  disappeared, 
Benjamin  stood  with  his  arms  akimbo,  and  his  eyes  fast- 
ened on  the  door;  when,  having  collected  his  astonished 
faculties,  he  prepared  to  execute  the  orders  he  had  re- 
ceived. 

It  has  been  already  said  that  the  "court  of  common 
pleas  and  general  sessions  of  the  peace,"  or,  as  it  is  com- 
monly called,  the  "  county  court/'  over  which  Judge  Tem- 
ple presided,  held  one  of  its  stated  sessions  on  the  follow- 
ing morning.  The  attendants  of  Richard  were  officers  who 
had  come  to  the  village,  as  much  to  discharge  their  usual 
duties  at  this  court,  as  to  escort  the  prisoners;  and  the 
Sheriff  knew  their  habits  too  well,  not  to  feel  confident  he 
should  find  most,  if  not  all  of  them,  in  the  public  room  of 
the  jail,  discussing  the  qualities  of  the  keeper's  liquors. 
Accordingly  he  held  his  way  through  the  silent  streets  of 
the  village,  directly  to  the  small  and  insecure  building 
that  contained  all  the  unfortunate  debtors,  and  some  of 
the  criminals  of  the  county,  and  where  justice  was  ad- 
ministered to  such  unwary  applicants  as  were  so  silly  as  to 
throw  away  two  dollars,  in  order  to  obtain  one  from  their 
neighbors.  The  arrival  of  four  malefactorsan  the  custody 
of  a  dozen  officers,  was  an  event,  at  that  day,  in  Temple- 
ton;  and  when  the  Sheriff  reached  the  jail,  he  found  every 
indication  that  his  subordinates  intended  to  make  a  night 
of  it 

The  nod  of  the  Sheriff  brought  two  of  his  deputies  to 
the  door,  who  in  their  turn  drew  off  six  or  seven  of  the 
constables.  With  this  force  Richard  led  the  way  through 
the  village,  towards  the  bank  of  the  lake,  undisturbed  by 
any  noise,  except  the  barking  of  one  or  two  curs,  who  were 
alarmed  by  the  measured  tread  of  the  party,  and  by  the 
low  murmurs  that  ran  through  their  own  numbers,  as  a 
few  cautious  questions  and  answers  were  exchanged,  rela- 
tive to  the  object  of  their  expedition.  When  they  had 
crossed  the  little  bridge  of  hewn  logs  that  was  thrown  over 
the  Susquehanna,  they  left  the  highway,  and  struck  into 


33° 


THE  PIONEERS. 


that  field  which  had  been  the  scene  of  the  victory  over  the 
pigeons.  From  this  they  followed  their  leader  into  the 
low  bushes  of  pines  and  chestnuts  which  had  sprung  up 
along  the  shores  of  the  lake,  where  the  plough  had  not 
succeeded  the  fall  of  the  trees,  and  soon  entered  the  forest 
itself.  Here  Richard  paused,  and  collected  his  troop 
around  him. 

I  have  required  your  assistance,  my  friends,"  he  said, 
in  a  low  voice,  "  in  order  to  arrest  Nathaniel  Bumppo, 
commonly  called  the  Leather-Stocking.  He  has  assaulted 
a  magistrate,  and  resisted  the  execution  of  a  search-war- 
rant, by  threatening  the  life  of  a  constable  with  his  rifle. 
In  short,  my  friends,  he  has  set  an  example  of  rebellion  to 
the  laws,  and  has  become  a  kind  of  outlaw.  He  is  sus- 
pected of  other  misdemeanors  and  offenses  against  private 
rights ;  and  I  have  this  night  taken  on  myself,  by  the  vir- 
tue of  my  office  of  Sheriff,  to  arrest  the  said  Bumppo,  and 
bring  him  to  the  county  jail,  that  he  may  be  present  and 
forthcoming  to  answer  to  these  heavy  charges  before  the 
court  to-morrow  morning.  In  executing  this  duty,  friends 
and  fellow-citizens,  jou  are  to  use  courage  and  discretion. 
Courage,  that  you  may  not  be  daunted  by  any  lawless  at- 
tempts that  this  man  may  make  with  his  rifle  and  his  dogs, 
to  oppose  you;  and  discretion,  which  here  means  caution 
and  prudence,  that  he  may  not  escape  from  this  sudden 
attack ;  and  for  other  good  reasons  that  I  need  not  men- 
tion. You  willl  form  yourselves  in  a  complete  circle 
around  his  hut,  and  at  the  word  'Advance/  called  aloud 
by  me,  you  will  rush  forward,  and,  without  giving  the 
criminal  time  for  deliberation,  enter  his  dwelling  by  force, 
and  make  him  your  prisoner.  Spread  yourselves  for  this 
purpose,  while  I  shall  descend  to  the  shore  with  a  deputy, 
to  take  charge  of  that  point;  and  all  communications  must 
be  made  directly  to  me,  under  the  bank  in  front  of  the 
hut,  where  I  shall  station  myself,  and  remain  in  order  to 
receive  them." 

This  speech,  which  Richard  had  been  studying  during 
his  walk,  had  the  effect  that  all  similar  performances  pro- 
duced, of  bringing  the  dangers  of  the  expedition  immedi- 
ately before  the  eyes  of  his  forces.  The  men  divided, 
some  plunging  deeper  into  the  forest,  in  order  to  gain 
their  stations  without  giving  an  alarm,  and  others  contin- 
uing to  advance,  at  a  gait  that  would  allow  the  whole  party 
to  go  in  order :  but  all  devising  the  best  plan  to  repulse 


THE  PIONEERS. 


331 


the  attack  of  a  dog,  or  to  escape  a  rifle  bullet.  It  was  a 
moment  of  dread  expectation  and  interest. 

When  the  Sheriff  thought  time  enough  had  elapsed  for 
the  different  divisions  of  his  force  to  arrive  at  their  sta- 
tions, lie  raised  his  voice  in  the  silence  of  the  forest,  and 
shouted  the  watchword.  The  sounds  played  among  the 
arched  branches  of  the  trees  in  hollow  cadences ;  but  when 
the  last  sinking  tone  was  lost  on  the  ear,  in  place  of  the 
expected  howl  of  the  dogs,  no  other  noises  were  returned 
but  the  crackling  of  torn  branches  and  dried  sticks,  as 
they  yielded  before  the  advancing  steps  of  the  officers. 
Even  this  soon  ceased,  as  if  by  a  common  consent,  when 
the  curiosity  and  impatience  of  the  Sheriff  getting  the 
complete  ascendency  over  discretion,  he  rushed  up  the 
bank,  and  in  a  moment  stood  on  the  little  piece  of  cleared 
ground  in  front  of  the  spot  where  Natty  had  so  long  lived. 
To  his  amazement,  in  place  of  the  hut  he  saw  only  its 
smouldering  ruins. 

The  party  gradually  drew  together  about  the  heap  of 
ashes  and  the  ends  of  smoking  logs ;  while  a  dim  flame  in 
the  centre  of  the  ruin,  which  still  found  fuel  to  feed  its 
lingering  life,  threw  its  pale  light,  nickering  with  the 
passing  currents  of  the  air,  around  the  circle,— now  show- 
ing a  face  with  eyes  fixed  in  astonishment,  and  then  glanc- 
ing to  another  countenance,  leaving  the  former  shaded  in 
the  obscurity  of  night.  Not  a  voice  was  raised  in  inquiry, 
nor  an  exclamation  made  in  astonishment.  The  transition 
from  excitement  to  disappointment  was  too  powerful  for 
speech :  and  even  Richard  lost  the  use  of  an  organ  that 
was  seldom  known  to  fail  him. 

The  whole  group  were  yet  in  the  fullness  of  their  sur- 
prise, when  a  tall  form  stalked  from  the  gloom  into  the 
circle,  treading  down  the  hot  ashes  and  dying  embers 
with  callous  feet;  and  standing  over  the  light,  lifted  his 
cap,  and  exposed  the  bare  head  and  weather-beaten  fea- 
tures of  the  Leather-Stocking.  For  a  moment  he  gazed  at 
the  dusky  figures  who  surrounded  him,  more  in  sorrow 
than  in  anger,  before  he  spoke. 

"  What  would  ye  with  an  old  and  helpless  man  ? "  he 
said.  "  You've  driven  God's  creaturs  from  the  wilderness^ 
where  his  providence  had  put  them  for  his  own  pleasure; 
and  you've  brought  in  the  troubles  and  divil tries  of  the 
law,  where  no  man  was  ever  known  to  disturb  another. 
You  have  driven  me,  that  have  lived  torty  long  years  of 


332 


THE  PIONEERS. 


my  appointed  time  in  this  very  spot,  from  my  home  and 
the  shelter  of  my  head,  lest  you  should  put  your  wicked 
feet  and  wasty  ways  in  my  cabin.  You've  driven  me  to 
burn  these  logs,  under  which  I've  eaten  and  drunk — the 
first  of  Heaven's  gifts,  and  the  other  of  the  pure  springs — 
for  the  half  of  a  hundred  years;  and  to  mourn  the  ashes 
under  my  feet,  as  a  man  would  weep  and  mourn  for  the 
children  of  his  body.  You've  rankled  the  heart  of  an  old 
man,  that  has  never  harmed  you  or  your'n,  with  bitter 
feelings  towards  his  kind,  at  a  time  when  his  thoughts 
should  be  on  a  better  world;  and  you've  driven  him  to 
wish  that  the  beasts  of  the  forest,  who  never  feast  on  the 
blood  of  their  own  families,  was  his  kindred  and  race;  and 
now,  when  he  has  come  to  see  the  last  brand  of  his  hut, 
before  it  is  melted  into  ashes,  you  follow  him  up,  at  mid- 
night, like  hungry  hounds  on  the  track  of  a  worn-out  and 
dying  deer.  What  more  would  ye  have  ?  for  I  am  here — 
one  too  many.  I  come  to  mourn,  not  to  fight;  and,  if  it 
is  God's  pleasure,  work  your  will  on  me." 

When  the  old  man  ended,  he  stood,  with  the  light  glim- 
mering around  his  thinly-covered  head,  looking  earnestly 
at  the  group,  which  receded  from  the  pile  with  an  invol- 
untary movement,  without  the  reach  of  the  quivering  rays, 
leaving  a  free  passage  for  his  retreat  into  the  bushes, 
where  pursuit,  in  the  dark,  would  have  been  fruitless. 
Natty  seemed  not  to  regard  this  advantage;  but  stood 
facing  each  individual  in  the  circle  in  succession,  as  if  to 
ee  who  would  be  the  first  to  arrest  him.  After  a  pause  of 
a  few  moments,  Eichard  began  to  rally  his  confused  facul- 
ties; and,  advancing,  apologized  for  his  duty,  and  made 
him  his  prisoner.  The  party  now  collected;  and,  preceded 
by  the  Sheriff,  with  Natty  in  their  centre,  they  took  their 
way  towards  the  village. 

During  the  walk,  divers  questions  were  put  to  the  pris- 
oner, concerning  his  reasons  for  burning  the  hut,  and 
whither  Mohegan  had  retreated;  but  to  all  of  them  he 
observed  a  profound  silence,  until,  fatigued  with  their 
previous  duties,  and  the  lateness  o£  the  hour,  the  Sheriff 
and  his  followers  reached  the  village,  and  dispersed  to 
their  several  places  of  rest,  after  turning  the  key  of  a  jail 
on  the  aged  and  apparently  friendless  Leather-Stocking. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


333 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Fetch  here  the  stocks,  ho !   

You  stubborn,  ancient  knave,  you  reverend  braggart 

We'll  teach  you.  LEAR' 

The  long  days  and  early  sun  of  July  allowed  time  for  a 
gathering  of  the  interested,  before  the  little  bell  of  the 
academy  announced  that  the  appointed  hoar  had  arrived 
for  administering  right  to  the  wronged,  and  punishment 
to  the  guilty.    Ever  since  the  dawn  of  day,  the  highways 
and  woodpaths  that,  issuing  from  the  forests,  and  winding 
along  the  sides  of  the  mountains,  centred  in  Templeton 
had  been  thronged  with  equestrians  and  footmen,  bound 
to  the  haven  of  justice.    There  was  to  be  seen  a  well-clad 
yeoman,  mounted  on  a  sleek,  switch-tailed  steed,  ambling 
klong  the  highway,  with  his  red  face  elevated  m  a  manner 
that  said,  "I  have  paid  for  my  land,  and  fear  no  man; 
while  his  bosom  was  swelling  with  the  pride  of  being  one 
of  the  grand  inquest  of  the  county.    At  his  side  rode  a 
companion,  his  equal  in  independence  of  feeling,  perhaps, 
but  his  inferior  in  thrift,  as  in  property  and  consideration. 
This  was  a  professed  dealer  in  lawsuits— a  man  whose 
name  appeared  in  every  calendar,— whose  substance,  gained 
in  the  multifarious  expedients  of  a  settler's  changeable 
habits,  was  wasted  in  feeding  the  harpies  of  the  courts 
He  was  endeavoring  to  impress  the  mmd  of  the  grand 
iuror  with  the  merits  of  a  cause  now  at  issue.    Along  wit  1 
these  was  a  pedestrian,  who,  having  thrown  a  rifle  irock 
over  his  shirt,  and  placed  his  best  wool  hat  above  his  sun- 
burnt visage,  had  issued  from  his  retreat  m  the  woods  by  a 
footpath,  and  was  striving  to  keep  company  with  the 
others,  on  his  way  to  hear  and  to  decide  the  disputes  ot 
his  neighbors,  as  a  petit  juror.    Fifty  similar  little  knots 
of  countrymen  might  have  been  seen,  on  that  morning, 
iourneying  towards  the  shire-town  on  the  same  errand. 

By  ten  o'clock  the  streets  of  the  village  were  filled  wi+ 
busy  faces;  some  talking  of  their  private  concerns,  p 
listening  to  a  popular  expounder  of  political  creed? 


334 


THE  PIONEERS. 


others  gaping  in  at  the  open  stores,  admiring  the  finery, 
or  examining  scythes,  axes,  and  such  other  manufactures 
as  attracted  their  curiosity  or  excited  their  admiration. 
A  few  women  were  in  the  crowd,  most  carrying  infants, 
and  followed,  at  a  lounging,  listless  gait,  by  their  rustic 
lords  and  masters.  There  was  one  young  couple,  in  whom 
connubial  love  was  yet  fresh,  walking  at  a  respectful  dis- 
tance from  each  other;  while  the  swain  directed  the  timid 
steps  of  his  bride,  by  a  gallant  offering  of  a  thumb! 

At  the  first  stroke  of  the  bell,  Richard  issued  from  the 
door  of  the  "  Bold  Dragoon,"  flourishing  a  sheathed  sword, 
that  he  was  fond  of  saying  his  ancestors  had  carried  in  one 
of  Cromwell's  victories,  and  crying,  in  an  authoritative 
tone,  to  "  Clear  the  way  for  the  court."  The  order  was 
obeyed  promptly,  though  not  servilely;  the  members  of 
the  crowd  nodding  familiarly  to  the  members  of  the  pro- 
cession as  it  passed.  A  party  of  constables  with  their 
staves  followed  the  Sheriff,  preceding  Marmaduke,  and 
four  plain,  grave-looking  yeomen,  who  were  his  associates 
on  the  bench.  There  was  nothing  to  distinguish  these 
subordinate  judges  from  the  better  part  of  the  spectators, 
except  gravity,  which  they  affected  a  little  more  than  com- 
mon, and  that  one  of  their  number  was  attired  in  an  old- 
fashioned  military  coat,  with  skirts  that  reached  no  lower 
than  the  middle  of  his  thighs,  and  bearing  two  little 
silver  epaulettes,  not  half  so  big  as  a  modern  pair  of 
shoulder-knots.  This  gentleman  was  a  colonel  of  the  militia, 
in  attendance  on  a  court-martial,  who  found  leisure  to  steal 
a  moment  from  his  military  to  attend  to  his  civil  jurisdic- 
tion; but  this  incongruity  excited  neither  notice  nor 
comment.  Three  or  four  clean-shaved  lawyers  followed, 
as  meekly  as  if  they  were  lambs  going  to  the  slaughter. 
One  or  two  of  their  number  had  contrived  to  obtain  an  air 
of  scholastic  gravity  by  wearing  spectacles.  The  rear  was 
brought  up  by  another  posse  of  constables,  and  the  mob 
followed  the  whole  into  the  room  where  the  court  held  its 
sittings. 

The  edifice  was  composed  of  a  basement  of  squared  logs, 
perforated  here  and  there  with  small  grated  windows, 
through  which  a  few  wistful  faces  were  gazing  at  the 
crowd  without.  Among  the  captives  were  the  guilty, 
downcast  countenances  of  the  counterfeiters,  and  the 
simple  but  honest  features  of  the  Leather-Stocking.  The 
dungeons  were  to  be  distinguished,  externally,  from  the 


THE  PIONEERS. 


335 


debtors'  apartments  only  by  the  size  of  the  apertures,  the 
thickness  of  the  grates,  and  by  the  heads  of  the  spikes 
that  were  driven  into  the  logs  as  a  protection  against  the 
illegal  use  of  edge-tools.  The  upper  story  was  of  frame- 
work, regularly  covered  with  boards,  and  contained  one 
room  decently  fitted  up  for  the  purposes  of  justice.  A 
bench,  raised  on  a  narrow  platform  to  the  height  of  a  man 
above  the  floor,  and  protected  in  front  by  a  light  railing, 
ran  along  one  of  its  sides.  In  the  centre  was  a  seat,  fur- 
nished with  rude  arms,  that  was  always  filled  by  the  pre- 
siding judge.  In  front,  on  a  level  with  the  floor  of  the 
room,  was  a  large  table  covered  with  green  baize,  and  sur- 
rounded by  benches;  and  at  either  of  its  ends  were  rows 
of  seats,  rising  one  over  the  other,  for  jury  boxes.  Each 
of  these  divisions  was  surrounded  by  a  railing.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  room  was  an  open  square,  appropriated  to 
the  spectators. 

When  the  judges  were  seated,  the  lawyers  had  taken 
possession  of  the  table,  and  the  noise  of  moving  feet  had 
ceased  in  the  area,  the  proclamations  were  made  in  the 
usual  form,  the  jurors  were  sworn,  the  charge  was  given, 
and  the  court  proceeded  to  hear  the  business  before  them. 

We  shall  not  detain  the  reader  with  a  description  of  the 
captious  discussions  that  occupied  the  court  for  the  first 
two  hours.  Judge  Temple  had  impressed  on  the  jury,  in 
his  charge,  the  necessity  for  despatch  on  their  part,  re- 
commending to  their  notice,  from  motives  of  humanity, 
the  prisoners  in  the  jail,  as  the  first  objects  of  their  atten- 
tion. Accordingly,  after  the  period  we  have  mentioned 
had  elapsed,  the  cry  of  the  officer  to  "  Clear  the  way  for 
the  grand  jury,"  announced  the  entrance  of  that  body. 
The  usual  forms  were  observed,  when  the  foreman  handed 
up  to  the  bench  two  bills,  on  both  of  which  the  Judge  ob- 
served, at  the  first  glance  of  his  eye,  the  name  of  Nathaniel 
Bumppo.  It  was  a  leisure  moment  with  the  court ;  some 
low  whispering  passed  between  the  bench  and  the  Sheriff, 
who  gave  a  signal  to  his  officers,  and  in  a  very  few  minutes 
the  silence  that  prevailed  was  interrupted  by  a  general 
movement  in  the  outer  crowd ;  when  presently  the  Leather- 
Stocking  made  his  appearance,  ushered  into  the  criminal's 
bar  under  the  custody  of  two  constables.  The  hum  ceased, 
the  people  closed  into  the  open  space  again,  and  the  silence 
soon  became  so  deep,,  that  the  hard  breathing  of  the  pris- 
oner was  audible. 


336 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Natty  was  dressed  in  his  buckskin  garments,  without 
his  coat,  in  place  of  which  he  wore  only  a  shirt  of  coarse 
linen-check,  fastened  at  his  throat  by  the  sinew  of  a  deer, 
leaving  his  red  neck  and  weather-beaten  face  exposed  and 
bare.  It  was  the  first  time  that  he  had  ever  crossed  the 
threshold  of  a  court  of  justice,  and  curiosity  seemed  to  be 
strongly  blended  with  his  personal  feelings.  He  raised 
his  eyes  to  the  bench,  thence  to  the  jury-boxes,  the  bar, 
and  the  crowd  without,  meeting  everywhere  looks  fastened 
on  himself.  After  surveying  his  own  person,  as  searching 
the  cause  of  this  unusual  attraction,  he  once  more  turned 
his  face  around  the  assemblage,  and  opened  his  mouth  in 
one  of  his  silent  and  remarkable  laughs. 

"  Prisoner,  remove  your  cap,"  said  Judge  Temple. 

The  order  was  either  unheard  or  unheeded. 

"  Nathaniel  Bumppo,  be  uncovered,"  repeated  the  J  udge. 

Natty  started  at  the  sound  of  his  name,  and  raising  his 
face  earnestly  towards  the  bench,  he  said, — 

"Anan!" 

Mr.  Lippet  arose  from  his  seat  at  the  table,  and  whis- 
pered in  the  ear  of  the  prisoner ;  when  Natty  gave  him  a 
nod  of  assent,  and  took  the  deerskin  covering  from  his  head. 

"  Mr.  District  Attorney,"  said  the  Judge,  "  the  prisoner 
is  ready;  we  wait  for  the  indictment." 

The  duties  of  public  prosecutor  were  discharged  by 
Dirck  Van  der  School,  who  adjusted  his  spectacles,  cast  a 
cautious  look  around  him  at  his  brethren  of  the  bar,  which 
he  ended  by  throwing  his  head  aside  so  as  to  catch  one 
glance  over  the  glasses,  when  he  proceeded  to  read  the  bill 
aloud.  It  was  the  usual  charge  for  an  assault  and  battery 
on  the  person  of  Hiram  Doolittle,  and  was  couched  in  the 
ancient  language  of  such  instruments,  especial  care  having 
been  taken  by  the  scribe  not  to  omit  the  name  of  a  single 
offensive  weapon  known  to  the  law.  When  he  had  done, 
Mr.  Van  der  School  removed  his  spectacles,  which  he 
closed  and  placed  in  his  pocket,  seemingly  for  the  pleasure 
of  again  opening  and  replacing  them  on  his  nose.  After 
this  evolution  was  repeated  once  or  twice,  he  handed  the 
bill  over  to  Mr.  Lippet  with  a  cavalier  air,  that  said'  as 
much  as  "  Pick  a  hole  in  that  if  you  can." 

Natty  listened  to  the  charge  with  great  attention,  lean- 
ing forward  towards  the  reader  with  an  earnestness  that 
denoted  his  interest ;  and  when  it  was  ended,  he  raised  his 
tall  body  to  the  utmost,  and  drew  a  long  sigh.    All  eyes 


THE  PIONEERS. 


337 


were  turned  to  the  prisoner,  whose  voice  was  vainly  ex- 
pected to  break  the  stillness  of  the  room. 

"You  have  heard  the  presentment  that  the  grand  jury 
have  made,  Nathaniel  Bumppo,"  said  the  Judge;  "what 
do  you  plead  to  the  charge  ?  " 

The  old  man  dropped  his  head  for  a  moment  in  a  re- 
flecting attitude,  and  then  raising  it,  he  laughed  before  he 
answered, — 

"  That  I  handled  the  man  a  little  rough  or  so,  is  not  to 
be  denied ;  but  that  there  was  occasion  to  make  use  of  all 
the  things  that  the  gentleman  has  spoken  of,  is  downright 
untrue.  I  am  not  much  of  a  wrestler,  seeing  that  Fm 
getting  old ;  but  I  was  out  among  the  Scotch-Irishers— let 
me  See— it  must  have  been  as  long  ago  as  the  first  of  the 
old  war " —  .  . 

"  Mr.  Lippet,  if  you  are  retained  for  the  prisoner,  in- 
terrupted Judge  Temple,  "instruct  your  client  how  to 
plead ;  if  not,  the  court  will  assign  him  counsel." 

Aroused  from  studying  the  indictment  by  this  appeal, 
the  attorney  got  up,  and  after  a  short  dialogue  with  the 
hunter  in  a  low  voice,  he  informed  the  court  that  they 
were  ready  to  proceed. 

"Do  you  plead  guilty  or  not  guilty?"  said  the  Judge. 

"  I  may  say  not  guilty  with  a  clean  conscience,"  returne 
Natty;  "for  there's  no  guilt  in  doing  what's  right;  and 
I'd  rather  died  on  the  spot,  than  had  him  put  foot  in  the 
hut  at  that  moment." 

Richard  started  at  this  declaration,  and  bent  his  eyes 
significantly  on  Hiram,  who  returned  the  look  with  a 
slight  movement  of  his  eyebrows. 

"Proceed  to  open  the  cause,  Mr.  District  Attorney," 
continued  the  Judge.  "  Mr.  Clerk,  enter  the  plea  of  not 
guilty." 

After  a  short  opening  address  from  Mr.  Van  der  School, 
Hiram  was  summoned  to  the  bar  to  give  his  testimony. 
It  was  delivered  to  the  letter,  perhaps,  but  with  all  that 
moral  coloring  which  can  be  conveyed  under  such  expres- 
sions as,  "thinking  no  harm,"  "feeling  it  my  bounden 
duty  as  a  magistrate,"  and  "  seeing  that  the  constable  was 
back'ard  in  the  business."  When  he  had  done,  and  the 
district  attorney  declined  putting  any  further  interroga- 
tories, Mr.  Lippet  arose,  with  an  air  of  keen  investigation, 
and  asked  the  following  questions: — 

"Are  you  a  constable  of  this  county,  sir  ?  " 


338  THE  PIONEERS. 

i 

"  No,  sir,"  said  Hiram,  "  I'm  only  a  justice-peace." 
I  ask  you,  Mr.  Doolittle,  in  the  face  of  this  court,  put* 
ting  it  to  your  conscience  and  your  knowledge  of  the  law, 
whether  you  had  any  right  to  enter  that  man's  dwelling  ?  " 

"  Hem !  "  said  Hiram,  undergoing  a  violent  struggle  be- 
tween his  desire  for  vengeance  and  his  love  of  legal  fame ; 
"  I  do  suppose— that  in — that  is— strict  law— that  suppos- 
ing—maybe I  hadn't  a  real — lawful  right ;  but  as  the  case 
was— and  Billy  was  so  back'ard— I  thought  I  might  come 
for'ard  in  the  business." 

"I  ask  you  again,  sir,"  continued  the  lawyer,  following 
up  his  success,  "  whether  this  old,  this  friendless  old  man, 
did  or  did  not  repeatedly  forbid  your  entrance  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  must  say,"  said  Hiram,  "  that  he  was  consider- 
able cross-grained :  not  what  I  call  clever,  seeing  that  it 
was  only  one  neighbor  wanting  to  go  into  the  house  of 
another." 

"  0 !  then  you  own  it  was  only  meant  for  a  neighborly 
visit  on  your  part,  and  without  the  sanction  of  law.  Re- 
member, gentlemen,  the  words  of  the  witness,  '  one  neigh- 
bor wanting  to  enter  the  house  of  another.'  Now,  sir,  I 
ask  you  if  Nathaniel  Bumppo  did  not  again  and  again 
order  you  not  to  enter  ?  " 

"There  was  some  words  passed  between  us,"  said  Hiram, 
"  but  I  read  the  warrant  to  him  aloud." 

"I  repeat  my  question;  did  he  tell  you  not  to  enter  his 
habitation  ?  " 

«  There  was  a  good  deal  passed  betwixt  us— but  I've  the 
warrant  in  my  pocket:  maybe  the  court  would  wish  to 
see  it  ?  " 

"Witness,"  said  Judge  Temple,  "answer  the  question 
directly;  did  or  did  not  the  prisoner  forbid  your  entering 
his  hut  ?  " 

"Why,  I  some  think"— 

"Answer  without  equivocation,"  continued  the  Judge 
sternly. 
"  He  did." 

"And  did  you  attempt  to  enter  after  this  order  ?  " 

"I  did;  but  the  warrant  was  in  my  hand." 

"Proceed,  Mr.  Lippet,  with  your  examination."  ^ 

But  the  attorney  saw  that  the  impression  was  in  favor 
of  his  client,  and,  waving  his  hand  with  a  supercilious 
manner,  as  if  unwilling  to  insult  the  understanding  of  the 
jury  with  any  further  defense,  he  replied, — 


THE  PIONEERS. 


339 


"No,  sir;  I  leave  it  for  your  honor  to  charge;  I  rest  my 
case  here." 

"Mr.  District  Attorney,"  said  the  Judge,  "have  you 
anything  to  say  ?  " 

Mr.  Van  der  School  removed  his  spectacles,  folded  them, 
and  replacing  them  once  more  on  his  nose,  eyed  the  other 
hill  which  he  held  in  his  hand;  and  then  said,  looking  at 
the  bar  over  the  top  of  his  glasses, — 

"  I  shall  rest  the  prosecution  here,  if  the  court  please." 

Judge  Temple  arose  and  began  the  charge. 

"Gentlemen  of  the  jury,"  he  said,  "you  have  heard  the 
testimony,  and  1  shall  detain  you  but  a  moment.  If  an 
officer  meet  with  resistance  in  the  execution  of  a  process, 
he  has  an  undoubted  right  to  call  any  citizen  to  his  assist- 
ance; and  the  acts  of  such  assistant  come  within  the 
protection  of  the  law.  I  shall  leave  you  to  judge,  gentle- 
men, from  the  testimony,  how  far  the  witness  in  this 
prosecution  can  be  so  considered,  feeling  less  reluctance  to 
submit  the  case  thus  informally  to  your  decision,  because 
there  is  yet  another  indictment  to  be  tried,  which  involves 
heavier  charges  against  the  unfortunate  prisoner." 

The  tone  of  Marmaduke  was  mild  and  insinuating,  and 
as  his  sentiments  were  given  with  such  apparent  impar- 
tiality, they  did  not  fail  of  carrying  due  weight  with  the 
jury.  The  grave-looking  yeomen  who  composed  this 
tribunal,  laid  their  heads  together  for  a  few  minutes,  with- 
out leaving  the  box,  when  the  foreman  arose,  and  after 
the  forms  of  the  court  were  duly  observed,  he  pronounced 
the  prisoner  to  be — 

"Not  guilty." 

"  You  are  aquitted  of  this  charge,  Nathaniel  Bumppo,^ 
said  the  Judge. 

"Anan !  "  said  Natty. 

"You  are  found  not  guilty  of  striking  and  assaulting 
Mr.  Doolittle." 

"No,  no,  I'll  not  deny  but  that  I  took  him  a  little 
■  roughly  by  the  shoulders,"  said  Natty,  looking  about  him 
with  great  simplicity,  "  and  that  I " — 

"  You  are  acquitted,"  interrupted  the  Judge,  "  and  there 
is  nothing  further  to  be  said  or  done  in  the  matter." 

A  look  of  joy  lighted  up  the  features  of  the  old  man, 
who  now  comprehended  the  case,  and  placing  his  cap 
eagerly  on  his  head  again,  he  threw  up  the  bar  of  his  little 
prison,  and  said  feelingly, — 


34o 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  I  must  say  this  for  you,  Judge  Temple,  that  the  law 
has  not  been  so  hard  on  me  as  I  dreaded.  I  hope  God  will 
bless  you  for  the  kind  things  you've  done  to  me  this  day." 

But  the  staff  of  the  constable  was  opposed  to  his  egress, 
and  Mr.  Lippet  whispered  a  few  words  in  his  ear,  when 
the  aged  hunter  sank  back  into  his  place,  and,  removing 
his  cap,  stroked  down  the  remnants  oi  his  gray  and  sandy 
locks,  with  an  air  of  mortification  mingled  with  sub- 
mission. 

"  Mr.  District  Attorney/'  said  Judge  Temple,  affecting 
to  busy  himself  with  his  minutes,  "  proceed  with  the  second 
indictment." 

Mr.  Van  der  School  took  great  care  that  no  part  of  the 
presentment,  which  he  now  read,  should  be  lost  on  his 
auditors.  It  accused  the  prisoner  of  resisting  the  execu- 
tion of  a  search-warrant,  by  force  of  arms,  and  particular- 
ized, in  the  vague  language,  of  the  law,  among  a  variety  of 
other  weapons,  the  use  of  the  rifle.  This  was  indeed  a 
more  serious  charge  than  an  ordinary  assault  and  battery, 
and  a  corresponding  degree  of  interest  was  manifested  by 
the  spectators  in  its  result.  The  prisoner  was  duly  ar- 
raigned, and  his  plea  again  demanded.  Mr.  Lippet  had 
anticipated  the  answers  of  Natty,  and  in  a  whisper  advised 
him  how  to  plead.  But  the  feelings  of  the  old  hunter 
were  awakened  by  some  of  the  expressions  of  the  indict- 
ment, and  forgetful  of  his  caution,  he  exclaimed, — 

"  Tis  a  wicked  untruth ;  I  crave  no  man's  blood.  Them 
thieves,  the  Iroquois,  won't  say  it  to  my  face,  that  I  ever 
thirsted  after  man's  blood.  I  have  fou't  as  a  soldier  that 
feared  his  Maker  and  his  officer,  but  I  never  pulled  trigger 
on  any  but  a  warrior  that  was  up  and  awake.  No  man  can 
say  that  I  ever  struck  even  a  Mingo  in  his  blanket.  I  believe 
there's  some  who  thinks  there's  no  God  in  a  wilderness!" 

"Attend  to  your  plea,  Bumppo,"  said  the  Judge;  "you 
hear  that  you  are  accused  of  using  your  rifle  against  an 
officer  of  justice  ?  are  you  guilty  or  not  guilty  ?  " 

By  this  time  the  irritated  feelings  of  Natty  had  found 
vent;  and  he  rested  on  the  bar  for  a  moment,  in  a  musing 
posture,  when  he  lifted  his  face,  with  his  silent  laugh,  and 
pointing  to  where  the  wood-chopper  stood,  he  said, — 

"  Would  Billy  Kirby  be  standing  there,  d'ye  think,  if  I 
had  used  the  rifle  ?  " 

"Then  you  deny  it,"  said  Mr.  Lippet;  "you  plead  not 
guilty?" 


THE  PIONEERS. 


341 


"Sartain,"  said  Natty;  "  Billy  knows  that  I  never  fired 
at  all.  Billy,  do  you  remember  the  turkey  last  winter ? 
ah,  me!  that  was  better  than  common  firing;  but  I  can't 
shoot  as  I  used  to  could." 

"Enter  the  plea  of  not  guilty,"  said  Judge  Temple, 
strongly  affected  by  the  simplicity  of  the  prison  er. 

Hiram  was  again  sworn,  and  his  testimony  given  on  the 
second  charge.  He  had  discovered  his  former  error,  and 
proceeded  more  cautiously  than  before.  He  related  very 
distinctly,  and  for  the  man,  with  amazing  terseness,  the 
suspicion  against  the  hunter,  the  complaint,  the  issuing 
of  the  warrant,  and  the  swearing  in  of  Kirby ;  all  of  which, 
he  affirmed,  were  done  in  due  form  of  law.  He  then  added 
the  manner  in  which  the  constable  had  been  received; 
and  stated  distinctly,  that  Natty  had  pointed  the  rifle  at 
Kirby,  and  threatened  his  life,  if  he  attempted  to  execute 
his  duty.  All  this  was  confirmed  by  Jotham,  who  was 
observed  to  adhere  closely  to  the  story  of  the  magistrate. 
Mr.  Lippet  conducted  an  artful  cross-examination  of  these 
two  witnesses,  but  after  consuming  much  time,  was  com- 
pelled to  relinquish  the  attempt  to  obtain  any  advantage, 
in  despair. 

At  length  the  district  attorney  called  the  wood-chopper 
to  the  bar.  Billy  gave  an  extremely  confused  account  of 
the  whole  affair,  although  he  evidently  aimed  at  the  truth, 
until  Mr.  Van  der  School  aided  him,  by  asking  some  direct 
questions : — 

"It  appears  from  examining  the  papers,  that  you  de- 
manded admission  into  the  hut  legally;  so  you  were  put 
in  bodily  fear  by  his  rifle  and  threats  ? " 

"  I  didn't  mind  them  that,  man,"  said  Billy,  snapping 
his  fingers ;  "  I  should  be  a  poor  stick  to  mind  old  Leather- 
Stocking." 

"  But  I  understood  you  to  say  (referring  to  your  previous 
words  (as  delivered  here  in  court)  in  the  commencement 
of  your  testimony)  that  you  thought  he  meant  to  shoot 
you?" 

"  To  be  sure  I  did ;  and  so  would  you  too,  squire,  if  you 
had  seen  the  chap  dropping  a  muzzle  that  never  misses, 
and  cocking  an  eye  that  has  a  natural  squint  by  long 
practice.  I  thought  there  would  be  a  dust  on%  and  my 
back  was  up  at  once ;  but  Leather-Stocking  gi'n  up  the 
skin,  and  so  the  matter  ended." 

"Ah!   Billy,"  said  Natty,  shaking  his  head,  "'twas  a 


342 


THE  PIONEERS. 


lucky  thought  in  me  to  throw  out  the  hide,  or  there  might 
have  been  blood  spilt;  and  Fm  sure,  if  it  had  been  your'n, 
I  should  have  mourned  it  sorely  the  little  while  I  have  to 
stay." 

"Well,  Leather-Stocking/'  returned  Billy,  facing  the 
prisoner  with  a  freedom  and  familiarity  that  utterly  dis- 
regarded the  presence  of  the  court,  "  as  you  are  on  the 
subject,  it  may  be  that  you've  no  "— 

"  Gro  on  with  your  examination,  Mr.  District  Attorney." 

That  gentleman  eyed  the  familiarity  between  his  wit- 
ness and  the  prisoner  with  manifest  disgust,  and  indicated 
to  the  court  that  he  was  done. 

"  Then  you  didn't  feel  frightened,  Mr.  Kirby  ? "  said 
the  counsel  for  the  prisoner. 

"  Me !  no,"  said  Billy,  casting  his  eyes  over  his  own  huge 
frame  with  evident  self-satisfaction;  "I'm  not  to  be 
skeared  so  easy." 

"  You  look  like  a  hardy  man ;  where  were  you  born,  sir  ?  " 

"  Varmount  State;  'tis  a  mountaynious  place,  but  there's 
a  stiff  soil,  and  it's  pretty  much  wooded  with  beech  and 
maple." 

"  I  have  always  heard  so,"  said  Mr.  Lippet,  soothingly. 
"You  have  been  used  to  the  rifle  yourself,  in  that  country  ?  " 

"  I  pull  the  second  best  trigger  in  this  county.  I  knock 
under  to  Natty  Bumppo  there,  sin'  he  shot  the  pigeon." 

Leather-Stocking  raised  his  head,  and  laughed  again, 
when  he  abruptly  thrust  out  a  wrinkled  hand,  and  said, — 

"  You're  young  yet,  Billy,  and  haven't  seen  the  matches 
that  I  have ;  but  here's  my  hand ;  I  bear  no  malice  to  vou, 
I  don't." 

Mr.  Lippet  allowed  this  conciliatory  offering  to  be  ac- 
cepted, and  judiciously  paused,  while  the  spirit  of  peace 
was  exercising  its  influence  over  the  two;  but  the  Judge 
interposed  his  authority. 

"  This  is  an  improper  place  for  such  dialogues,"  he  said. 
"Proceed  with  your  examination  of  this  Avitness,  Mr. 
Lippet,  or  I  shall  order  the  next." 

The  attorney  started,  as  if  unconscious  of  any  impro- 
priety, and  continued, — 

"So  you  settled  the  matter  witli  Natty  amicably  on  the 
spot,  did  you  ?  " 

"  He  gi'n  mo  the  skin,  and  I  didn't  want  to  quarrel  with 
an  old  man;  for  my  part,  I  see  no  such  mighty  matter  in 
shooting  a  buck! " 


77/  £  PIONEERS. 


343 


"And  you  parted  friends  ?  and  you  would  never  have 
thought  of  bringing  the  business  lip  before  a  court,  hadn't 
you  been  subpoenaed  ? " 

"I  don't  think  I  should;  he  gi'n  the  skin,  and  I  didn't 
feel  a  hard  thought,  though  Squire  Doolittle  got  some 
affronted." 

"  I  have  done,  sir,"  .said  Mr.  Lippet,  probably  relying  on 
the  charge  of  the  Judge,  as  he  again  seated  himself,  with 
the  air  of  a  man  who  felt  that  his  success  was  certain. 

When  Mr.  Van  der  School  arose  to  address  the  jury,  he 
commenced  by  saying, — 

"  Gentlemen  of  the  jury,  I  should  have  interrupted  the 
leading  questions  put  by  the  prisoner's  counsel  (by  leading 
questions  I  mean  telling  him  what  to  say),  did  I  not  feel 
confident  that  the  law  of  the  land  was  superior  to  any  ad- 
vantages (I  mean  legal  advantages)  which  he  might  obtain 
by  his  art.  The  counsel  for  the  prisoner,  gentlemen,  has 
endeavored  to  persuade  you,  in  opposition  to  your  own 
good  sense,  to  believe  that  pointing  a  rifle  at  a  constable 
(elected  or  deputed)  is  a  very  innocent  affair;  and  that 
society  (I  mean  the  commonwealth,  gentlemen)  shall  not 
be  endangered  thereby.  But  let  me  claim  your  attention, 
while  we  look  over  the  particulars  of  this  heinous  offense." 
Here  Mr.  Van  der  School  favored  the  jury  with  an  abridg- 
ment of  the  testimony,  recounted  in  such  a  manner  as 
utterly  to  confuse  the  faculties  of  his  worthy  listeners. 
After  this  exhibition  he  closed  as  follows :  "And  now,  gen- 
tlemen, having  thus  made  plain  to  your  senses  the  crime 
of  which  this  unfortunate  man  has  been  guilty  (unfortu- 
nate both  on  account  of  his  ignorance  and  his  guilt),  I 
shall  leave  you  to  your  own  consciences :  not  in  the  least 
doubting  that  you  will  see  the  importance  (notwithstand- 
ing the  prisoner's  counsel  (doubtless  relying  on  your  former 
verdict)  wishes  to  appear  so  confident  of  success)  of  pun- 
ishing the  offender,  and  asserting  the  dignity  of  the 
laws." 

It  was  now  the  duty  of  the  Judge  to  deliver  his  charge. 
It  consisted  of  a  short,  comprehensive  summary  of  the 
testimony,  laying  bare  the  artifice  of  the  prisoner's  counsel, 
and  placing  the  facts  in  so  obvious  a  light,  that  they  could 
not  well  be  misunderstood.  "  Living  as  we  do,  gentlemen," 
he  concluded,  "  on  the  skirts  of  society,  it  becomes  doubly 
necessary  to  protect  the  ministers  of  the  law.  If  you  be- 
lieve the  witnesses,  in  their  construction  of  the  acts  of  the 


344  THE  PIONEERS. 

prisoner,  it  is  your  duty  to  convict  him;  but  if  you  believe 
that  the  old  man,  who  this  day  appears  before  you,  meant 
not  to  harm  the  constable,  but  was  acting  more  under  the 
influence  of  habit  than  by  the  instigations  of  malice,  it 
will  be  your  duty  to  judge  him,  bat  to  do  it  with  lenity." 

As  before,  the  jury  did  not  leave  their  box;  but,  after  a 
consultation  of  some  little  time,  their  foreman  arose,  and 
pronounced  the  prisoner, — 

"  Guilty." 

There  was  but  little  surprise  manifested  in  the  court- 
room at  this  verdict,  as  the  testimony,  the  greater  part  of 
which  we  have  omitted,  was  too  clear  and  direct  to  be 
passed  over.  The  judges  seemed  to  have  anticipated  this 
sentiment,  for  a  consultation  was  passing  among  them 
also,  during  the  deliberation  of  the  jury,  and  the  prepara- 
tory movements  of  the  "bench"  announced  the  coming 
sentence. 

"Nathaniel  Bumppo,"  commenced  the  Judge,  making 
the  customary  pause.  .  -  . 

The  old  hunter,  who  had  been  musing  again,  with  his 
head  on  the  bar,  raised  himself,  and  cried,  with  a  prompt, 
military  tone, — 

"  Here." 

The  Judge  waved  his  hand  for  silence,  and  proceeded,— 
"  In  forming  their  sentence,  the  court  have  been  gov- 
erned as  much  by  the  consideration  of  your  ignorance  of 
the  laws,  as  by  a  strict  sense  of  the  importance  of  punish- 
ing such  outrages  as  this  of  which  you  have  been  found 
guilty.  They  have  therefore  passed  over  the  obvious  pun- 
ishment of  whipping  on  the  bare  back,  in  mercy  to  your 
ears;  but  as  the  dignity  of  the  law  requires  an  open  ex- 
ibition  of  the  consequences  of  your  crime,  it  is  ordered 
that  you  be  conveyed  from  this  room  to  the  public  stocks, 
where  you  are  to  be  confined  for  one  hour:  that  you  pay  a 
fine  to  the  State  of  one  hundred  dollars;  and  that  you  be 
imprisoned  in  the  jail  of  this  county  for  one  calendar 
month,  and  furthermore,  that  your  imprisonment  do  not 
cease  until  the  said  fine  shall  be  paid.  I  feel  it  my  duty, 
Nathaniel  Bumppo  " — 

"And  where  should  I  get  the  money  ?  "  interrupted  the 
Leather-Stocking,  eagerly;  "where  should  I  get  the 
money  ?  you'll  take  away  the  bounty  on  the  painters,  be- 
cause I  cut  the  throat  of  a  deer;  and  how  is  an  old  man  to 
find  so  much  gold* or  silver  in  the  woods!    No,  no,  Judge; 


THE  PIONEERS. 


345 


think  better  of  it,  and  don't  talk  of  shutting  me  up  in  a 
jail  for  the  little  time  I  have  to  stay." 

"  If  you  have  anything  to  urge  against  the  passing  of 
the  sentence,  the  court  will  yet  hear  you,"  said  the  Judge, 
mildly. 

"I  have  enough  to  say  agin  it," cried  Natty,  grasping  the 
bar  on  which  his  fingers  were  working  with  a  convulsed 
motion.  "  Where  am  I  to  get  the  money  ?  Let  me  out 
into  the  woods  and  hills,  where  I've  been  used  to  breathe 
the  clear  air,  and  though  I'm  threescore  and  ten,  if  you've 
left  game  enough  in  the  country,  I'll  travel  night  and  day 
but  I'll  make  you  up  the  sum  afore  the  season  is  over.  Yes, 
yes  ;  you  see  the  reason  of  the  thing,  and  the  wickedness 
of  shutting  up  an  old  man,  that  has  spent  his  days,  as  one 
may  say,  where  he  could  always  look  into  the  windows  of 
heaven." 

"  I  must  be  governed  by  the  law  " — 

"  Talk  not  to  me  of  law,  Marmaduke  Temple,"  inter- 
rupted the  hunter.  "  Did  the  beast  of  the  forest  mind  your 
laws,  when  it  was  thirsty  and  hungering  for  the  blood  of 
your  own  child !  She  was  kneeling  to  her  God  for  a  greater 
favor  than  I  ask,  and  He  heard  her;  and  if  you  now  say 
no  to  my  prayers,  do  you  think  He  will  be  deaf  ?  " 

"  My  private  feelings  must  not  enter  into  " — 

"  Hear  me,  Marmaduke  Temple,"  interrupted  the  old 
man,  with  melancholy  earnestness,  "  and  hear  reason.  I've 
travelled  these  mountains  when  you  was  no  judge,  but  an 
infant  in  your  mother's  arms ;  and  I  feel  as  if  I  had  a  right 
and  a  privilege  to  travel  them  ag'in  afore  I  die.  Have  you 
forgot  the  time  that  you  come  on  to  the  lake  shore,  when 
there  wasn't  even  a  jail  to  lodge  in ;  and  didn't  I  give  you 
my  own  bearskin  to  sleep  on,  and  the  fat  of  a  noble  buck 
to  satisfy  the  cravings  of  your  hunger  ?  Yes,  yes— you 
thought  it  no  sin  then  to  kill  a  deer !  And  this  I  did, 
though  I  had  no  reason  to  love  you,  for  you  had  never 
done  anything  but  harm  to  them  that  loved  and  sheltered 
me.  And  now,  will  you  shut  me  up  in  your  dungeons  to 
pay  me  for  my  kindness?  A  hundred  dollars!  where 
should  I  get  the  money  ?  No,  no ;  there's  them  that  says 
hard  things  of  you,  Marmaduke  Temple,  but  you  ain't  so 
bad  as  to  wish  to  see  an  old  man  die  in  a  prison,  because 
he  stood  up  for  the  right.  Come,  friend,  let  me  pass;  it's 
long  sin'  I've  been  used  to  such  crowds,  and  I  crave  to  be 
in  the  woods  ag'in.    Don't  fear  me,  Judge — I  bid  you  not 


346 


THE  PIONEERS. 


to  fear  me;  for  if  there's  beaver  enough  left  on  the 
streams,  or  the  buckskins  will  sell  for  a  shilling  apiece, 
you  shall  have  the  last  penny  of  the  fine.  Where  are  ye, 
pups !  come  away,  dogs !  come  away !  we  have  a  grievous 
toil  to  do  for  our  years,  but  it  shall  be  done — yes,  yes,  I've 
promised  it,  and  it  shall  be  done ! " 

It  is  unnecessary  to  say,  that  the  movement  of  the 
Leather-Stocking  was  again  intercepted  by  the  constable; 
but  before  he  had  time  to  speak,  a  bustling  in  the  crowd, 
and  a  loud  hem,  drew  all  eyes  to  another  part  of  the  room 

Benjamin  had  succeeded  in  edging  his  way  through  the 
people,  and  was  now  seen  balancing  his  short  body,  with 
one  foot  in  a  window  and  the  other  on  a  railing  of  the 
jury-box.  To  the  amazement  of  the  whole  court,  the 
steward  was  evidently  preparing  to  speak.  After  a  good 
deal  of  difficulty,  he  succeeded  in  drawing  from  his  pocket 
a  small  bag,  and  then  found  utterance. 

"  If-so-be,"  he  said,  "  that  your  honor  is  agreeable  to 
trust  the  poor  fellow  out  on  another  cruise  among  the 
beasts,  here's  a  small  matter  that  will  help  to  bring  down 
the  risk,  seeing  that  there's  just  thirty-five  of  your  Span- 
iards in  it;  and  I  wish,  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart,  that 
they  was  raal  British  guineas,  for  the  sake  of  the  old  boy. 
But  'tis  as  it  is;  and  if  Squire  Dickens  will  just  be  so  good 
as  to  overhaul  this  small  bit  of  an  account,  and  take 
enough  from  the  bag  to  settle  the  same,  he's  welcome  to 
hold  on  upon  the  rest,  till  such  time  as  the  Leather-Stock- 
ing can  grapple  with  them  said  beaver,  or,  for  that  matter, 
forever,  and  no  thanks  asked." 

As  Benjamin  concluded,  he  thrust  out  the  wooden  re- 
gister of  his  arrears  to  the  "Bold  Dragoon"  with  one 
hand,  while  he  offered  his  bag  of  dollars  with  the  other. 
Astonishment  at  this  singular  interruption  produced  a 
profound  stillness  in  the  room,  which  was  only  interrupted 
by  the  Sheriff,  who  struck  his  sword  on  the  table,  and 
cried, — 

"  Silence!" 

"There  must  be  an  end  to  this,"  said  the  Judge,  strug- 
gling to  overcome  his  feelings.  "  Constable,  lead  the  pris- 
oner to  the  stocks.  Mr.  Clerk,  what  stands  next  on  the 
calendar  ?  " 

Natty  seemed  to  yield  to  his  destiny,  for  he  sank  his 
head  on  his  chest,  and  followed  the  officer  from  the  court- 
room in  silence.    The  crowd  moved  back  for  the  passage 


THE  PIONEERS. 


347 


of  the  prisoner,  and  when  his  tall  form  was  seen  descend- 
ing from  the  outer  door,  a  rush  of  the  people  to  the  scene 
of  his  disgrace  followed. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Ha  !  ha  !  look  !  he  wears  cruel  garters. 

King  Lear. 

The  punishments  of  the  common  law  were  still  known, 
at  the  time  of  our  tale,  to  the  people  of  New  York;  and 
the  whipping-post,  and  its  companion,  the  stocks,  were. not 
yet  supplanted  by  the  more  merciful  expedients  of  the 
public  prison.  Immediately  in  front  of  the  jail  those 
relics  of  the  elder  times  were  situated,  as  a  lesson  of  pre- 
cautionary justice  to  the  evil-doers  of  the  settlement. 

Natty  followed  the  constables  to  this  spot,  bowing  his 
head  with  submission  to  a  power  that  he  was  unable  to  op- 
pose, and  surrounded  by  the  crowd  that  formed  a  circle 
about  his  person,  exhibiting  in  their  countenances  strong 
curiosity.  A  constable  raised  the  upper  part  of  the  stocks, 
and  pointed  with  his  finger  to  the  holes  where  the  old  man 
was  to  place  his  feet.  Without  making  the  least  objection 
to  the  punishment,  the  Leather-Stocking  quietly  seated 
himself  on  the  ground,  and  suffered  his  limbs  to  be  laid  in 
the  openings,  without  even  a  murmur;  though  he  cast  one 
glance  about  him,  in  quest  of  that  sympathy  that  human 
nature  always  seems  to  require  under  suffering.  If  he 
met  no  direct  manifestations  of  pity,  neither  did  he  see 
any  unfeeling  exultation,  or  hear  a  single  reproachful 
epithet.  The  character  of  the  mob,  if  it  could  be  called 
by  such  a  name,  was  that  of  attentive  subordination. 

The  constable  was  in  the  act  of  lowering  the  upper 
plank,  when  Benjamin,  who  had  pressed  close  to  the  side 
of  the  prisoner,  said,  in  his  hoarse  tones,  as  if  seeking  for 
some  cause  to  create  a  quarrel, — 

"  Where-away,  Master  Constable,  is  the  use  of  clapping 
a  man  in  them  here  bilboes  ?  it  neither  stops  his  grog  nor 
hurts  his  back;  what  for  is  it  that  you  do  the  thing  ?  "' 

"'Tis  the  sentence  of  the  court,  Mr.  Penguillium,  and 
there's  law  for  it,  I  s'pose." 

"Aye,  aye,  I  know  that  there's  law  for  the  thing;  but 
where-away  do  you  find  the  use,  I  say  ?  it  does  no  harm, 


348 


THE  PIONEERS. 


and  it  only  keeps  a  man  by  the  heels  for  the  small  matter 
of  two  glasses." 

"Is  it  no  harm,  Benny  Pump/'  said  Natty,  raising  his 
eyes  with  a  piteous  look  in  the  face  of  the  steward,  "  is  it 
no  harm  to  show  off  a  man  in  his  seventy-first  year,  like  a 
tame  bear,  for  the  settlers  to  look  on !  Is  it  no  harm  to 
put  an  old  soldier,  that  has  sarved  through  the  war  of 
'fifty-six,  and  seen  the  inimy  in  the  'seventy-six  business, 
into  a  place  like  this,  where  the  boys  can  point  at  him  and 
say,  I  have  known  the  time  when  he  was  a  spectacle  for 
the  country!  Is  it  no  harm  to  bring  down  the  pride  of  an 
honest  man  to  be  the  equal  of  the  beasts  of  the  forest ! " 

Benjamin  stared  about  him  fiercely,  and  could  he  have 
found  a  single  face  that  expressed  contumely,  he  would 
have  been  prompt  to  quarrel  with  its  owner;  but  meeting 
everywhere  with  looks  of  sobriety,  and  occasionally  of 
commiseration,  he  very  deliberately  seated  himself  by  the 
side  of  the  hunter,  and  placing  his  legs  in  the  two  vacant 
holes  of  the  stocks,  he  said, — 

"  Now  lower  away,  Master  Constable,  lower  away,  I  tell 
ye!   If-so-be  there's  such  a  thing  hereabouts  as  a  man  that 

wants  to  see  a  bear,  let  him  look  and  be  d  d,  and  he 

shall  find  two  of  them,  and  mayhap  one  of  the  same  that 
can  bite  as  well  as  growl." 

"  But  I  have  no  orders  to  put  you  in  the  stocks,  Mr. 
Pump,"  cried  the  constable;  "you  must  get  up,  and  let 
me  do  my  duty." 

"  You've  my  orders,  and  what  do  you  need  better  to 
meddle  with  my  own  feet  ?  so  lower  away,  will  ye,  and  let 
me  see  the  man  that  chooses  to  open  his  mouth  with  a 
grin  on  it." 

"  There  can't  be  any  harm  in  locking  up  a  creatur  that 
will  enter  the  pound,"  said  the  constable,  laughing,  and 
closing  the  stocks  on  them  both. 

It  was  fortunate  that  this  act  was  executed  with  decis- 
ion, for  the  whole  of  the  spectators,  when  they  saw  Benja- 
min assume  the  position  he  took,  felt  an  inclination  for 
merriment,  which  few  thought  it  worth  while  to  suppress. 
The  steward  struggled  violently  for  his  liberty  again,  with 
an  evident  intention  of  making  battle  on  those  who  stood 
nearest  to  him;  but  the  key  was  already  turned,  and  all 
his  efforts  were  vain. 

"  Hark  ye,  Master  Constable,"  he  cried,  *'  just  clear  away 
your  bilboes  for  the  small  matter  of  a  log-glass,  will  ye, 


THE  P10N&ERS, 


349 


and  let  me  show  some  of  them  there  chaps  who  it  is  they 
are  so  merry  about." 

"  No,  no,  you  would  go  in,  and  you  can't  come  out,"  re- 
turned the  officer,  "until  the  time  has  expired  that  the 
Judge  directed  for  the  keeping  of  the  prisoner." 

Benjamin,  finding  that  his  threats  and  his  struggles 
were  useless,  had  good  sense  enough  to  learn  patience  from 
the  resigned  manner  of  his  companion,  and  soon  settled 
himself  down  by  the  side  of  Natty,  with  a  contemptuous- 
ness  expressed  in  his  hard  features,  that  showed  he  had 
substituted  disgust  for  rage.  When  the  violence  of  the 
steward's  feelings  had  in  some  measure  subsided,  he  turned 
to  his  fellow-sufferer,  and,  with  a  motive  that  might  have 
vindicated  a  worse  effusion,  he  attempted  the  charitable 
office  of  consolation. 

"  Taking  it  by  and  large,  Master  Bump-ho,  'tis  but  a 
small  matter  after  all,"  he  said.  "  Now,  I've  known  very 
good  sort  of  men,  aboard  of  the  Boadishey,  laid  by  the 
heels,  for  nothing,  mayhap,  but  forgetting  that  they'd 
drunk  their  allowance  already,  when  a  glass  of  grog  has 
come  in  their  way.  This  is  nothing  more  than  riding  with 
two  anchors  ahead,  waiting  for  a  turn  in  the  tide,  or  a  shift 
of  wind,  d'ye  see,  with  a  soft  bottom  and  plenty  of  room 
for  the  sweep  of  your  hawse.  Now  I've  seen  many  a  man, 
for  overshooting  his  reckoning,  as  I  told  ye,  moored  head 
and  starn,  where  he  couldn't  so  much  as  heave  his  broad- 
side round,  and  mayhap  a  stopper  clapt  on  his  tongue  too, 
in  the  shape  of  a  pump-bolt  lashed  athwartship  his  jaws, 
all  the  same  as  an  outrigger  alongside  of  a  taffrail-rail." 

The  hunter  appeared  to  appreciate  the  kind  intentions 
of  the  other,  though  he  could  not  understand  his  elo- 
quence ;  and  raising  his  humbled  countenance,  he  attempted 
a  smile,  as  he  said, — 

"Anan!" 

"  'Tis  nothing,  I  say,  but  a  small  matter  of  a  squall  that 
will  soon  blow  over,"  continued  Benjamin.  "  To  you  that 
has  such  a  length  of  keel,  it  must  be  all  the  same  as  noth- 
ing; tho'f,  seeing  that  I'm  a  little  short  in  my  lower  tim- 
bers, they've  triced  my  heels  up  in  such  a  way  as  to  give 
me  a  bit  of  a  cant.  But  what  cares  I,  Master  Bump-ho,  if 
the  ship  strains  a  little  at  her  anchor ;  it's  only  for  a  dog- 
watch, and  dam'me  but  she'll  sail  with  you  then  on  that 
cruise  after  them  said  beaver.  I'm  not  much  used  to 
small-arms,  seeing  that  I  was  stationed  at  the  ammunition- 


3$o 


THE  PIONEERS. 


boxes,  being  sum'mat  too  low-rigged  to  see  over  the  ham- 
mock-cloths; but  I  can  carry  the  game,  d'ye  see,  and  may- 
hap make  out  to  lend  a  hand  with  the  traps;  and  if-so-be 
you're  anyway  so  handy  with  them  as  ye  be  with  your  boat- 
hook,  'twill  be  but  a  short  cruise  after  all.  I've  squared 
the  yards  with  Squire  Dickens  this  morning,  and  I  shall 
send  him  word  that  he  needn't  bear  my  name  on  the  books 
again  till  such  time  as  the  cruise  is  over." 

"You're  used  to  dwell  with  men,  Benny/'  said  Leather- 
Stocking,  mournfully,  "  and  the  ways  of  the  woods  would 
be  hard  on  you,  if  " — 

"  Not  a  bit — not  a  bit,"  cried  the  steward ;  "  I'm  none 
"  of  your  fair-weather  chaps,  Master  Bump-ho,  as  sails  only 
in  smooth  water.  When  I  find  a  friend,  I  sticks  by 
him,  d'ye  see.  Now,  there's  no  better  man  a-going  than 
Squire  Dickens,  and  I  love  him  about  the  same  as  I  loves 
Mistress  Hollister 's  new  keg  of  Jamaiky."  The  steward 
paused,  and  turning  his  uncouth  visage  on  the  hunter,  he 
surveyed  him  with  a  roguish  leer  of  his  eye,  and  gradually 
suffered  the  muscles  of  his  hard  features  to  relax,  until  his 
face  was  illuminated  by  the  display  of  his  white  teeth, 
when  he  dropped  his  voice,  and  added, — "I  say,  Master 
Leather-Stocking,  'tis  fresher  and  livelier  than  any  Hol- 
lands you'll  get  in  Garnsey.  But  we'll  send  a  hand  over 
and  ask  the  woman  for  a  taste,  for  I'm  so  jammed  in  these 
here  bilboes,  that  I  begin  to  want  sum'mat  to  lighten  my 
upper  works." 

Natty  sighed,  and  gazed  about  him  on  the  crowd,  that 
already  began  to. disperse,  and  which  had  now  diminished 
greatly,  as  its  members  scattered  in  their  various  pursuits. 
He  looked  wistfully  at  Benjamin,  but  did  not  reply;  a 
deeply  seated  anxiety  seeming  to  absorb  every  other  sensa- 
tion, and  to  throw  a  melancholy  gloom  over  his  wrinkled 
features,  which  were  working  with  the  movements  of  his 
mind. 

The  steward  was  about  to  act  on  the  old  principle,  that 
silence  gives  consent,  when  Hiram  Doolitle,  attended  by 
Jotham,  stalked  out  of  the  crowd,  across  the  open  sjuce, 
and  approached  the  stocks.  The  magistrate  passed  by 
the  end  where  Benjamin  was  seated,  and  posted  himself, 
at  a  safe  distance  from  the  steward,  in  front  of  the  Leather- 
Stocking.  Hiram  stood  for  a  moment,  cowering  before 
the  keen  looks  that  Natty  fastened  on  him,  and  suffering 
under  an  embarrassment  that  was  quite  new;  when,  liav- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


351 


ing  in  some  degree  recovered  himself,  he  looked  at  the 
heavens,  and  then  at  the  smoky  atmosphere,  as  if  it  were 
only  an  ordinary  meeting  with  a  friend,  and  said  in  his 
formal,  hesitating  w;iy, — 

"Quite  a  scurcity  of  rain  lately;  I  some  think  we  shall 
have  a  long  drought  on't." 

Benjamin  was  occupied  in  untying  his  bag  of  dollars, 
and  did  not  observe  the  approach  of  the  magistrate,  while 
Nutty  turned  his  face,  in  which  every  muscle  was  working, 
away  from  him  in  disgust,  without  answering.  Rather 
encouraged  than  daunted  by  this  exhibition  of  dislike, 
Hiram,  after  a  short  pause,  continued, 

"  The  clouds  look  as  if  they'd  no  water  in  them,  and  the 
earth  is  dreadfully  parched.  To  my  judgment,  there'll  be 
short  crops  this  season,  if  the  rain  doesn't  fall  speedily." 

The  air  with  which  Mr.  Doolittle  delivered  this  prophet- 
ical opinion  was  peculiar  to  his  species.  It  was  a  jesuiti- 
cal,  cold,  unfeeling,  and  selfish  manner,  that  seemed  to 
say,  "  I  have  kept  within  the  law,"  to  the  man  he  had  so 
cruelly  injured.  It  quite  overcame  the  restraint  that  the 
old  hunter  had  been  laboring  to  impose  on  himself,  and 
he  burst  out  in  a  warm  glow  of  indignation. 

"  Why  should  the  rain  fall  from  the  clouds,"  he  cried, 
"  when  you  force  the  tears  from  the  eyes  of  the  old,  the 
sick,  and  the  poor!  Away  with  ye— away  with  ye!  you 
may  be  formed  in  the  image  of  the  Maker,  but  Satan 
dwells  m  your  heart.  Away  with  ye,  I  say!  I  am  mourn- 
ful, and  the  sight  of  ye  brings  bitter  thoughts." 

Benjamin  ceased  thumbing  his  money,  and  raised  his 
head  at  the  instant  that  Hiram,  who  was  thrown  off  his 
guard  by  the  invectives  of  the  hunter,  unluckily  trusted 
his  person  within  reach  of  the  steward,  who  grasped  one 
of  his  legs,  with  a  hand  that  had  the  grip  oi  a  vice,  and 
whirled  the  magistrate  from  his  feet,  before  he  had  either 
time  to  collect  his  senses  or  to  exercise  the  strength  he  did 
really  possess.  Benjamin  wanted  neither  proportions  nor 
manhood  111  his  head,  shoulders,  and  arms,  though  all  the 
rest  of  his  frame  appeared  to  be  originally  intended  for  a 
very  different  sort  of  a  man.  He  exerted  his  physical 
powers  on  the  present  occasion,  with  much  discretion;  and 
as  he  had  taken  his  antagonist  at  a  great  disadvantage,  the 
struggle  resulted,  very  soon,  in  Benjamin  getting  the  mag- 
istrate fixed  in  a  posture  somewhat  similar  to  his  own,  and 
manfully  placed  face  to  face. 


352 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  You're  a  ship's  cousin,  I  tell  ye,  Master  Doo-but-lit- 
*-tle,"  roared  the  steward;  "some  such  matter  as  a.  ship's 
cousin,  sir.  I  know  you,  I  do,  with  your  fair-weather 
speeches  to  Squire  Dickens,  to  his  face,  and  then  you  go 
and  sarve  out  your  grumbling  to  all  the  old  women  in  the 
town,  do  ye.  Ain't  it  enough  for  any  Christian,  let  him 
harbor  never  so  much  malice,  to  get  an  honest  old  fellow  laid 
by  the  heels  in  this  fashion,  without  carrying  sail  so  hard  on 
the  poor  log,  as  if  you  would  run  him  down  as  he  lay  at 
his  anchors  ?  But  I've  logged  many  a  hard  thing  against 
your  name,  master,  and  now  the  time's  come  to  foot  up  the 
day's  work,  d'ye  see ;  so  square  yourself,  you  lubber,  square 
yourself,  and  we'll  soon  know  who's  the  better  man." 

"  Jotham  !"  cried  the  frightened  magistrate—"  Jotham ! 
call  in  the  constables.  Mr.  Penguilliuin,  I  command  the 
peace — I  order  you  to  keep  the  peace." 

"  There's  been  more  peace  than  love  atwixt  us,  master," 
cried  the  steward,  making  some  very  unequivocal  demon- 
strations towards  hostility;  "so  mind  yourself!  square 
yourself,  I  say !  do  you  smell  this  here  bit  of  a  sledge-ham- 
mer?" 

"Lay  hands  on  me  if  you  dare!"  exclaimed  Hiram,  as 
well  as  he  could  under  the  grasp  which  the  steward  held 
on  his  throttle,  "  lay  hands  on  me  if  you  dare !  " 

"  If  ye  call  this  laying,  master,  you  are  welcome  to  the 
eggs,"  roared  the  steward. 

It  becomes  our  disagreeable  duty  to  record  here,  that 
the  acts  of  Benjamin  now  became  violent;  for  he  darted 
his  sledge-hammer  violently  on  the  anvil  of  Mr.  Doolittle's 
countenance,  and  the  place  became,  in  an  instant,  a  scene 
ot  tumult  and  confusion.  The  crowd  rushed  in  a  dense 
circle  around  the  spot,  while  some  ran  to  the  court-room, 
to  give  the  alarm,  and  one  or  two  of  the  more  juvenile  part 
of  the  multitude  had  a  desperate  trial  of  speed  to  see  who 
should  be  the  happy  man  to  communicate  the  critical  situ- 
ation of  the  magistrate  to  his  wife. 

Benjamin  worked  away  with  great  industry  and  a  good 
deal  of  skill,  at  his  occupation,  using  one  hand  to  raise  up 
his  antagonist,  while  he  knocked  him  over  with  the  other; 
for  he  would  have  been  disgraced  in  his  own  estimation, 
had  he  struck  a  blow  on  a  fallen  adversary.  By  this  con- 
siderate arrangement  he  had  found  means  to  hammer  the 
visage  of  Hiram  out  of  all  shape,  by  the  time  Richard  suc- 
ceeded in  forcing  his  way  through  the  throng  to  the  point 


THE  PIONEERS. 


353 


of  combat.  The  Sheriff  afterwards  declared  that,  inde- 
pendently of  his  mortification,  as  preserver  of  the  peace  of 
the  county,  at  this  interruption  to  its  harmony,  he  was 
never  so  grieved  in  his  life  as  when  he  saw  this  breach  of 
unity  between  his  favorites.  Hiram  had  in  some  degree 
become  necessary  to  his  vanity,  and  Benjamin,  strange  as 
it  may  appear,  he  really  loved.  This  attachment  was  ex- 
hibited in  the  first  words  that  he  uttered. 

"  Squire  Doolittle !  Squire  Doolittle!  I  am  ashamed  to 
.  see  a  man  of  your  character  and  office  forget  himself  so 
much  as  to  disturb  the  peace,  insult  the  court,  and  beat 
poor  Benjamin  in  this  manner !  " 

At  the  sound  of  Mr.  Jones's  voice,  the  steward  ceased 
his  employment,  and  Hiram  had  an  opportunity  of  raising 
his  discomfited  visage  towards  the  mediator.  Emboldened 
by  the  sight  of  the  Sheriff,  Mr.  Doolittle  again  had  re- 
course to  his  lungs. 

"I'll  have  the  law  on  you  for  this,"  he  cried  desper- 
ately; "Fll  have  the  law  on  you  for  this.  I  call  on  you, 
Mr.  Sheriff,  to  seize  this  man,  and  I  demand  that  you  take 
his  body  into  custody." 

By  this  time  Richard  was  master  of  the  true  state  of 
the  case,  and,  turning  to  the  steward,  he  said,  reproach- 
fully— ^ 

"Benjamin,  how  came  you  in  the  stocks?  I  always 
thought  you  were  mild  and  docile  as  a  lamb.  It  was  for 
your  docility  that  I  most  esteemed  you.  Benjamin !  Ben- 
jamin! you  have  not  only  disgraced  yourself,  but  your 
friends,  by  this  shameless  conduct.  Bless  me !  Bless  me ! 
Mr.  Doolittle,  he  seems  to  have  knocked  your  face  all  of 
one  side." 

Hiram  by  this  time  had  got  on  his  feet  again,  and  with- 
out the  reach  of  the  steward,  when  he  broke  forth  in  vio- 
lent appeals  for  vengeance.  The  offense  was  too  apparent 
to  be  passed  over,  and  the  Sheriff,  mindful  of  the  im- 
partiality exhibited  by  his  cousin  in  the  recent  trial  of  the 
Leather-Stocking,  came  to  the  painful  conclusion  that  it 
was  necessary  to  commit  his  major-domo  to  prison.  As 
the  time  of  Natty's  punishment  was  expired,  and  Benjamin 
found  that  they  were  to  be  confined,  for  that  night  at 
least,  in  the  same  apartment,  he  made  no  very  strong  ob- 
jections to  the  measure,  nor  spoke  of  bail,  though,  as  the 
Sheriff  preceded  the  party  of  constables  that  conducted 
them  to  the  jail,  he  uttered  the  following  remonstrance :— 


354  THE  PIONEERS. 

"As  to  being  berthed  with  Master  Bump-ho  for  a  night 
or  so,  it's  but  little  I  think  of  it,  Squire  Dickens,  seeing 
that  I  calls  him  an  honest  man,  and  one  as  has  a  handy 
way  with  boat-hooks  and  rifles;  but  as  for  owning  that  a 
man  desarves  anything  worse  than  a  double  allowance,  for 
knocking  that  carpenter's  face  a-one-side,  as  you  call  it, 
I'll  maintain  it's  agin  reason  and  Christanity.  If  there's 
a  bloodsucker  in  this  'ere  county,  it's  that  very  chap.  Aye ! 
I  know  him,  and  if  he  has'nt  got  all  the  same  as  dead 
wood  in  his  head  wurks,  he  knows  sum'mat  of  me.  A\  here's . 
the  mighty  harm,  Squire,  that  you  take  it  so  much  to 
heart  ?  It's  all  the  same  as  any  other  battle,  d'ye.^see,  sir, 
being  broadside  to  broadside,  only  that  it  was  fou't  at  an- 
chor, which  was  what  we  did  in  Port  Praya  roads,  when 
SufTring  came  in  among  us;  and  a  suff'ring  time  he  had 
of  it,  before  he  got  out  again." 

Eichard  thought  it  unworthy  of  him  to  make  any  reply 
to  this  speech;  but  when  his  prisoners  were  safely  lodged 
in  an  outer  dungeon,  ordering  the  bolts  to  be  drawn  and 
the  key  turned,  he  withdrew.  . 

Benjamin  held  frequent  and  friendly  dialogues  with  dif- 
ferent people,  through  the  iron  gratings,  during  the  after- 
noon; but  his  companion  paced  their  narrow  limits,  m  his 
moccasins,  with  quick,  impatient  treads,  his  face  hanging 
on  his  breast  in  dejection,  or  when  lifted,  at  moments,  to 
the  idlers  at  the  window,  lighted,  perhaps,  for  an  instant, 
with  the  childish  aspect  of  aged  forgetfulness,  which 
would  vanish  directly  in  an  expression  of  deep  and  obvious 

anxiety.  ,  ., 

At  the  close  of  the  day,  Edwards  was  seen  at  the  win- 
dow, in  earnest  dialogue  with  his  friend ;  and  after  he  de- 
parted, it  was  thought  that  he  had  communicated  words 
of  comfort  to  the  hunter,  who  threw  himself  on  his  pallet 
and  was  soon  in  a  deep  sleep.  The  curious  spectators  had 
exhausted  the  conversation  of  the  steward,  who  had  drunk 
good  fellowship  with  half  of  his  acquaintance,  and  asNatty 
was  no  longer  in  motion,  by  eight  o'clock,  Billy  Kirby, 
who  was  the  last  lounger  at  the  window,  retired  into  the 
"Templetown  Coffee-house,"  when  Natty  rose  and  hung  a 
blanket  before  the  opening,  and  the  prisoners  apparently 
retired  for  the  night. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


355 


CHAPTER  XXXV- 

And  to  avoid  the  foe's  pursuit, 

With  spurring  put  their  cattle  to't ; 

And  till  all  four  were  out  of  wind, 

And  danger  too,  ne'er  looked  behind.  Hudibras. 

As  the  shades  of  evening  approached,  the  jurors,  wit- 
nesses, and  other  attendants  on  the  court,  began  to  dis- 
perse, and  before  nine  o'clock  the  village  was  quiet,  and  its 
streets  nearly  deserted.  At  that  hour  Judge  Temple  and 
his  daughter,  followed  at  a  short  distance  by  Louisa  Grant, 
walked  slowly  down  the  avenue,  under  the  slight  shadows 
of  the  young  poplars,  holding  the  following  discourse:— 

"You  can  best  soothe  his  wounded  spirit,  my  child/' 
said  Marmaduke;  "  but  it  will  be  dangerous  to  touch  on 
the  nature  of  his  offense;  the  sanctity  of  the  laws  must  be 
respected/' 

"  Surely,  sir,"  cried  the  impatient  Elizabeth,  "  those  laws 
that  condemn  a  man  like  the  Leather-Stocking  to  so  severe 
a  punishment,  for  an  offense  that  even  I  must  think  very 
venial,  cannot  be  perfect  in  themselves." 

"  Thou  talkest  of  what  thou  dost  not  understand,  Eliza- 
beth," returned  her  father.  "Society  cannot  exist  without 
wholesome  restraints.  Those  restraints  cannot  be  inflicted, 
without  security  and  respect  to  the  persons  of  those  who 
administer  them;  and  it  would  sound  ill  indeed  to  report, 
that  a  judge  had  extended  favor  to  a  convicted  criminal, 
because  he  had  saved  the  life  of  his  child." 

"I  see— I  see  the  difficulty  of  your  situation,  dear  sir," 
cried  the  daughter,  "but  in  appreciating  the  offense  of 
poor  Natty,  I  cannot  separate  the  minister  of  the  law  from 
the  man." 

"  There  thou  talkest  as  a  woman,  child ;  it  is  not  for  an 
assault  on  Hiram  Doolittle,  but  for  threatening  the  life  of 
a  constable,  who  was  in  the  performance  of  " — 

"  It  is  immaterial  whether  it  be  one  or  the  other,"  in- 
terrupted Miss  Temple,  with  a  logic  that  contained  more 
feeling  than  reason;  "I  know  Natty  to  be  innocent,  and 
thinking  so,  I  must  think  all  wrong  who  oppress  him," 


356 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  His  judge  among  the  number!  thy  father,  Elizabeth  ? 99 
"Nay,  nay,  nay;  do  not  put  such  questions  to  me;  give 

me  my  commission,  father,  and  let  me  proceed  to  execute 

it." 

The  Judge  paused  a  moment,  smiling  fondly  on  his 
child,  and  then  dropped  his  hand  affectionately  on  her 
shoulder,  as  he  answered, — 

"  Thou  hast  reason,  Bess,  and  much  of  it  too,  but  thy 
heart  lies  too  near  thy  head.  But  listen:  in  this  pocket- 
book  are  two  hundred  dollars.  Go  to  the  prison— there 
are  none  in  this  place  to  harm  thee— give  this  note  to  the 
jailer,  and  when  thou  seest  Bumppo,  say  what  thou  wilt  to 
the  poor  old  man;  give  scope  to  the  feelings  of  thy  warm 
heart;  but  try  to  remember,  Elizabeth,  that  the  laws  alone 
remove  us  from  the  condition  of  the  savages;  that  he  has 
been  criminal,  and  that  his  judge  was  thy  father." 

Miss  Temple  made  no  reply,  but  she  pressed  the  hand 
that  held  the  pocket-book  to  her  bosom,  and  taking  her 
friend  by  the  arm,  they  issued  together  from  the  inclosure 
into  the  principal  street  of  the  village. 

As  they  pursued  their  walk  in  silence,  under  the  row  of 
houses,  where  the  deeper  gloom  of  the  evening  effectually 
concealed  their  persons,  no  sound  reached  them,  except- 
ing the  slow  tread  of  a  yoke  of  oxen,  with  the  rattling  of  a 
cart,  that  were  moving  along  the  street  in  the  same  direc- 
tion with  themselves.    The  figure  of  the  teamster  was  just 
discernible  by  the  dim  light,  lounging  by  the  side  of  his 
cattle  with  a  listless  air,  as  if  fatigued  by  the  toil  of  the 
day.    At  the  corner,  where  the  jail  stood,  the  progress  of 
the  ladies  was  impeded,  for  a  moment,  by  the  oxen,  who 
were  turned  up  to  the  side  of  the  building,  and  given  a 
lock  of  hay,  which  they  had  carried  on  their  necks,  as  a 
reward  for  their  patient  labor.    The  whole  of  this  was  so 
natural,  and  so  common,  that  Elizabeth  saw  nothing  to 
induce  a  second  glance  at  the  team,  until  she  heard  the 
teamster  speaking  to  his  cattle  in  a  low  voice:— 
"Mind  yourself,  Brindle;  will  you,  sir!  will  you! 
The  language  itself  was  unusual  to  oxen,  with  which  all 
who  dwell  in  a  new  country  are  familiar;  but  there  was 
something  in  the  voice  also,  that  startled  Miss  Temple. 
On  turning  the  corner,  she  necessarily  approached  the 
man,  and  her  look  was  enabled  to  detect  the  person  of 

Oliver  Edwards,  concealed  under  the  coarse  garb  of  a 
teamster.    Their  eyes  met  at  the  same  instant,  and,  not- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


357 


withstanding  the  gloom,  and  the  enveloping  cloak  of  Eliza- 
beth, the  recognition  was  mutual. 

"  Miss  Temple !  "  «  Mr.  Edwards  !  were  exclaimed  simul- 
taneously, though  a  feeling  that  seemed  common  to  both, 
rendered  the  words  nearly  inaudible. 

"  Is  it  possible ! "  exclaimed  Edwards,  after  the  moment 
of  doubt  had  passed;  "do  I  see  you  so  nigh  the  jail!  but 
you  are  going  to  the  Rectory;  I  beg  pardon,  Miss  Grant,  I 
believe;  I  did  not  recognize  you  at  first." 

The  sigh  which  Louisa  uttered  was  so  faint,  that  it  was 
only  heard  by  Elizabeth,  who  replied  quickly,— 
.  "  We  are  going  not  only  to  the  jail,  Mr.  Edwards,  but 
into  it.  We  wish  to  show  the  Leather-Stocking  that  we 
do  not  forget  his  services,  and  that  at  the  same  time  we 
must  be  just,  we  are  also  grateful.  I  suppose  you  are  on  a 
similar  errand;  but  let  me  beg  that  you  will  give  us  leave 
to  precede  you  ten  minutes.  Good-night,  sir;  I— I— am 
quite  sorry,  Mr,  Edwards,  to  see  you  reduced  to  such  labor; 
I  am  sure  my  father  would  " — 

"  I  shall  wait  your  pleasure,  madam/'  interrupted  the 
youth,  coldly.  "  May  I  beg  that  you  will  not  mention  my 
being  here  ?" 

"Certainly/'  said  Elizabeth,  returning  his  bow  by  a 
slight  inclination  of  her  head,  and  urging  the  tardy  Louisa 
forward.  As  they  entered  the  jailer's  house,  however,  Miss 
Grant  found  leisure  to  whisper — 

"  Would  it  not  be  well  to  offer  part  of  your  money  to 
Oliver?  half  of  it  will  pay  the  fine  of  Bumppo;  and  he  is 
so  unused  to  hardships !  I  am  sure  my  father  will  sub- 
scribe much  of  his  little  pittance,  to  place  him  in  a  station 
that  is  more  worthy  of  him." 

The  involuntary  smile  that  passed  over  the  features  of 
Elizabeth  was  blended  with  an  expression  of  deep  and 
heartfelt  pity.  She  did  not  reply,  however,  and  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  jailer  soon  recalled  the  thoughts  of  both 
to  the  object  of  their  visit. 

.  The  rescue  of  the  ladies,  and  their  consequent  interest 
m  his  prisoner,  together  with  the  informal  manners  that 
prevailed  in  the  country,  all  united  to  prevent  any  sur- 
prise, on  the  part  of  the  jailer,  at  their  request  for  admis- 
sion to  Bumppo.  The  note  of  Judge  Temple,  however, 
would  have  silenced  all  objections,  if  he  had  felt  them,  and 
he  led  the  way  without  hesitation  to  the  apartment  that 
held  the  prisoners.    The  instant  the  key  was  put  into  the 


358  THE  PIONEERS. 

lock,  the  "hoarse  voice  of  Benjamin  was  heard,  demanding,— 
"  Yo !  hoy !  who  comes  there  ?  " 

"  Some  visitors  that  you'll  be  glad  to  see/'  returned  the 
jailer.    "  What  have  you  done  to  the  lock,  that  it  won't 

turn?"  „.ii  i 

"Handsomely,  handsomely,  master,"  cried  the  steward; 
"  I  have  just  drove  a  nail  into  a  berth  alongside  of  this  here 
bolt,  as  a  stopper,  d'ye  see,  so  that  Master  Do-but-little 
can't  be  running  in  and  breezing  up  another  fight  atwixt 
us-  for,  to  my  account,  there'll  be  but  a  ban-yan  with  me 
soon,  seeing  that  they'll  mulct  me  of  my  Spaniards,  all  the 
same  as  if  I'd  overflogged  the  lubber.  Throw  your  ship 
into  the  wind,  and  lay  by  for  a  small  matter,  will  ye  ?  and 
I'll  soon  clear  a  passage." 

The  sounds  of  hammering  gave  an  assurance  that  the 
steward  was  in  earnest,  and  in  a  short  time  the  lock  yielded, 
when  the  door  was  opened. 

Benjamin  had  evidently  been  anticipating  the  seizure  01 
his  money,  for  he  had  made  frequent  demands  on  the 
favorite  cask  at  the  "  Bold  Dragoon,"  during  the  afternoon 
and  evening,  and  was  now  in  that  state  which  by  marine 
imagery  is  called  "half-seas-over."  It  was  no  easy  thing 
to  destroy  the  balance  of  the  old  tar  by  the  effects  ol  liquor, 
for,  as  he  expressed  it  himself,  "  He  was  too  low-rigged  not 
to  carry  sail  in  all  weathers;"  but  he  was  precisely  in  that 
condition  which  is  so  expressively  termed  "  muddy.  \\  hen 
he  perceived  who  the  visitors  were,  he  retreated  to  the  side 
of  the  room  where  his  pallet  lay,  and,  regardless  of  the 
presence  of  his  young  mistress,  seated  himself  on  it  with 
an  air  of  great  sobriety,  placing  his  back  firmly  against  the 

wall.  Ig 

"  If  you  undertake  to  spoil  my  locks  in  this  manner,  Mr. 
Pump,"  said  the  jailer,  "I  shall  put  a  stopper,  as  you  call 
it,  on  your  legs,  and  tie  you  down  to  your  bed.'        -  _ 

"What  for  should  ye,  master?"  grumbled  Benjamin; 
"  I've  rode  out  one  squall  to-day  anchored  by  the  heels,  and 
I  wants  no  more  of  them.  Where's  the  harm  of  doing  all 
the  same  as  yourself  ?  Leave  that  there  door  free  out- 
board, and  you'll  find  no  locking  inboard,  I'll  promise  ye. 

"  I  must  shut  up  for  the  night  at  nine,"  said  the  jailer 
"and  it's  now  forty-two  minutes  .past  eight.';  He  placed 
the  little  candle  on*  a  rough  pine  table,  and  withdrew. 

"Leather-Stocking!"  said  Elizabeth,  when  the  key  of 
the  door  was  turned  on  them  again,  "  my  good  inend 


THE  PIONEERS. 


359 


Leather-Stocking!  I  have  come  on  a  message  of  grati- 
tude. Had  you  submitted  to  the  search,  worthy  old  man, 
the  death  of  the  deer  would  have  been  a  trifle,  and  all 
would  have  been  well " — 

"Submit  to  the  s'arch!"  interrupted  Natty,  raising  his 
face  from  resting  on  his  knees,  without  rising  from  the 
corner  where  he  had  seated  himself ;  "  dy'e  think,  gal,  I 
would  let  such  a  varmint  into  my  hut  ?  No,  no;  I  wouldn't 
have  opened  the  door  to  your  own  sweet  countenance  then. 
But  they  are  wilcome  to  s'arch  among  the  coals  and  ashes 
now ;  they'll  find  only  some  such  heap  as  is  to  be  seen  at 
every  pot-ashery  in  the  mountains." 

The  old  man  dropped  his  face  again  on  one  hand,  and 
seemed  to  be  lost  in  melancholy. 

"  The  hut  can  be  rebuilt,  and  made  better  than  before," 
returned  Miss  Temple ;  "  and  it  shall  be  my  office  to  see  it 
done,  when  your  imprisonment  is  ended." 

"  Can  you  raise  the  dead,  child  ?  "  said  Natty,  in  a  sor- 
rowful voice :  "  can  ye  go  into  the  place  where  you've  laid 
your  fathers,  and  mothers,  and  children,  and  gather  together 
their  ashes,  and  make  the  same  men  and  women  of  them 
as  afore  ?  You  do  not  know  what  'tis  to  lay  your  head  for 
more  than  forty  years  under  the  cover  of  the  same  logs, 
and  to  look  on  the  same  things  for  the  better  part  of  a 
man's  life.  You  are  young  yet,  child,  but  you  are  one  of 
the  most  precious  of  God's  creatures.  I  had  a  hope  for  ye 
that  it  might  come  to  pass,  but  it's  all  over  now;  this  put 
to  that,  will  drive  the  thing  quite  out  of  his  mind  forever." 

Miss  Temple  must  have  understood  the  meaning  of  the 
old  man  better  than  the  other  listeners ;  for,  while  Louisa 
stood  innocently  by  her  side,  commiserating  the  griefs  of 
the  hunter,  she  bent  her  head  aside,  so  as  to  conceal  her 
features.  The  action  and  the  feeling  that  caused  it  lasted 
but  a  moment. 

"  Other  logs,  and  better,  though,  can  be  had,  and  shall 
be  found  for  you,  my  old  defender,"  she  continued.  "  Your 
confinement  will  soon  be  over,  and,  before  that  time  ar- 
rives, I  shall  have  a  house  prepared  for  you,  where  you 
may  spend  the  close  of  your  harmless  life  in  ease  and 
plenty." 

"  Ease  and  plenty !  house ! "  repeated  Natty,  slowly. 
w  Fuu  mean  well,  you  mean  well,  and  I  quite  mourn  that 
it  cannot  be ;  but  he  has  seen  me  a  sight  and  a  laughing- 
stock for  " — 


360 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"Damn  your  stocks,"  said  Benjamin,  nourishing  his 
bottle  with  one  hand,  from  which  he  had  been  taking  hasty 
and  repeated  draughts,  while  he  made  gestures  of  disdain 
with  the  other;  "who  cares  for  his  bilboes?  there's  a  leg 
that's  been  stuck  up  an  end  like  a  jib-boom  for  an  hour, 
d'ye  see,  and  what's  it  the  worse  for't,  ha!  canst  tell  me, 
what's  it  the  worser,  ha ! " 

"  I  believe  you  forget,  Mr.  Pump,  in  whose  presence  you 
are,"  said  Elizabeth. 

"Forget  you,  Miss  Lizzy,"  returned  the  steward;  "if  I 
do,  dam'me;  you  are  not  to  be  forgot,  like  Goody  Pretty- 
bones,  up  at  the  big  house  there.  I  say,  old  sharp-shooter, 
she  may  have  pretty  bones,  but  I  can't  say  so  much  for  her 
flesh,  d'ye  see,  for  she  looks  somewhat  like  an  atomy  with 
another  man's  jacket  on.  Now,  for  the  skin  of  her  face, 
it's  all  the  same  as  a  new  topsail  with  a  taut  bolt-rope, 
being  snug  at  the  leaches,  but  all  in  a  bight  about  the 
inner  cloths."  J 

"Peace— I  command  you  to  be  silent,  sir!'   said  Eliza- 

"Aye,  aye,  ma'am,"  returned  the  steward.  "  You  didn't 
say  I  shouldn't  drink,  though." 

"  We  will  not  speak  of  what  is  to  become  of  others, 
said  Miss  Temple,  turning  again  to  the  hunter,  "  but  of 
your  own  fortunes,  Natty.    It  shall  be  my  care  to  see  that 
you  pass  the  rest  of  your  days  in  ease  and  plenty." 

"  Ease  and  plenty !  "  again  repeated  the  Leather-Stock- 
ing; "what  ease  can  there  be  to  an  old  man,  who  must 
walk  a  mile  across  the  open  fields,  before  he  can  find  a 
shade  to  hide  him  from  a  scorching  sun!  or  what  plenty 
is  there  where  you  may  hunt  a  day,  and  not  start  a  buck,  or 
see  anything  bigger  than  a  mink,  or  maybe  a  stray  fox ! 
Ah!  I  shall  have  a  hard  time  after  them  very  beavers,  for 
this  fine.  I  must  go  low  toward  the  Pennsylvany  line  in 
search  of  the  creaturs,  maybe  a  hundred  mile;  for  they 
are  not  to  be  got  here-away.  No,  no ;  your  betterments 
and  clearings  have  druv  the  knowing  things  out  of  the 
country;  and  instead  of  beaver-dams,  which  is  the  natur' 
of  the  animal,  and  according  to  Providence,  you  turn  back 
the  waters  over  the  low  grounds  with  your  mill-dams,  as  if 
'twas  in  man  to  stay  the  drops  from  going  where  He  wills 
them  to  go.  Benny,  unless  you  stop  your  hand  from  going 
so  often  to  your  mouth,  you  won't  be  ready  to  start  when 
the  time  comes." 


THE  PIONEERS. 


361 


"Harkee,  Master  Bump-ho,"  said  the  steward;  "don't 
you  fear  for  Ben.  When  the  watch  is  called,  set  me  on 
my  legs,  and  give  me  the  bearings  and  distance  of  where 
you  want  to  steer,  and  I'll  carry  sail  with  the  best  of  you, 
I  will." 

"The  time  has  come  now,"  said  the  hunter,  listening; 
"  I  hear  the  horns  of  the  oxen  rubbing  agin  the  side  of  the 
jail/' 

"  Well,  say  the  word,  and  then  heave  ahead,  shipmate," 
said  Benjamin. 

"  You  won't  betray  us,  gal  ?  "  said  Natty,  looking  simply 
into  the  face  of  Elizabeth;  "you  won't  betray  an  old  man, 
who  craves  to  breathe  the  clear  air  of  heaven  ?  I  mean  no 
harm ;  and  if  the  law  says  that  I  must  pay  the  hundred 
dollars,  I'll  take  the  season  through,  but  it  shall  be  forth- 
coming; and  this  good  man  will  help  me." 

"You  catch  them,"  said  Benjamin,  with  a  sweeping 
gesture  of  his  arm,  "and  if  they  get  away  again,  call  me  a 
slink,  that's  all." 

"  But  what  mean  you  ?  "  cried  the  wondering  Elizabeth. 
"  Here  you  must  stay  for  thirty  days ;  but  I  have  the  money 
for  your  fine  in  this  purse.  Take  it;  pay  it  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  summon  patience  for  your  month.  I  will  come 
often  to  see  you,  with  my  friend;  we  will  make  up  your 
clothes  with  our  own  hands;  indeed,  indeed,  you  shall  be 
comfortable." 

"  Would  ye,  children  ?  "  said  Natty,  advancing  across  the 
floor  with  an  air  of  kindness,  and  taking  the  hand  of 
Elizabeth;  "would  ye  be  so  kearful  of  an  old  man,  and 
just  for  shooting  the  beast  which  cost  him  nothing  ?  Such 
things  doesn't  run  in  the  blood,  I  believe,  for  you  seem  not 
to  forget  a  favor.  Your  little  fingers  couldn't  do  much  on 
a  buckskin,  nor  be  you  used  to  such  a  thread  as  sinews. 
But  if  he  hasn't  got  past  hearing,  he  shall  hear  it  and 
know  it,  that  he  may  see,  like  me,  there  is  some  who 
know  how  to  remember  a  kindness." 

«  Tell  him  nothing,"  cried  Elizabeth,  earnestly,  "  if  you 
love  me,  if  you  regard  my  feelings,  tell  him  nothing.  It 
is  of  yourself  only  I  would  talk,  and  for  yourself  only  I 
act.  I  grieve,  Leather-Stocking,  that  the  law  requires  that 
you  should  be  detained  here  so  long;  but,  after  all,  it  will 
be  only  a  short  month,  and  " — 

"A  month ! "  exclaimed  Natty,  opening  his  mouth  with 
his  usual  laugh;  **not  a  day,  nor  a  night,  nor  an  hour,  gal. 


362 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Judge  Temple  may  sintence,  but  he  can't  keep,  without  a 
better  dungeon  than  this.  I  was  taken  once  by  the  French, 
and  they  put  sixty-two  of  us  in  a  block-house,  nigh  hand 
to  old  Frontenac;  but  'twas  easy  to  cut  through  a  pine  log 
to  them  that  was  used  to  timber."  The  hunter  paused, 
and  looked  cautiously  around  the  room,  when,  laughing 
again,  he  shoved  the  steward  gently  from  his  post,  and 
removing  the  bedclothes,  discovered  a  hole  recently  cut  m 
the  logs  with  a  mallet  and  chisel.  "  It's  only  a  kick,  and 
the  outside  piece  is  off,  and  then  n — 

"  Off!  aye,  off! 99  cried  Benjamin,  rousing  from  his  stupor; 
"well,  here's  off.  Aye!  aye!  you  catch  'em,  and  I'll  hold 
on  to  them  said  beaver-hats." 

"I  fear  this  lad  will  trouble  me  much,"  said  Natty; 
« 'twill  be  a  hard  pull  for  the  mountain,  should  they  take 
the  scent  soon,  and  he  is  not  in  a  stats  of  mind  to  run." 

"Kun!"  echoed  the  steward;  " no,  sheer  alongside,  and 
let's  have  a  fight  of  it." 

"  Peace ! "  ordered  Elizabeth. 

"Aye,  aye,  ma'am." 

« You  will  not  leave  us,  surely,  Leather-Stocking,  con- 
tinued Miss  Temple;  "I  beseech  you,  reflect  that  you  will 
be  driven  to  the  woods  entirely,  and  that  you  are  fast  get- 
ting old.  Be  patient  for  a  little  time,  when  you  can  go 
abroad  openly,  and  with  honor." 

"  Is  there  beaver  to  be  catched  here,  gal  ?  " 

"  If  not,  here  is  money  to  discharge  the  fine,  and  in  a 
month  you  are  free.    See,  here  it  is  in  gold." 

"Gold!"  said  Natty,  with  a  kind  of  childish  curiosity; 
"  it's  long  sin'  I've  seen  a  gold  piece.  We  used  to  get  the 
broad  joes,  in  the  old  war,  as  plenty  as  the  bears  be  now. 
I  remember  there  was  a  man  in  Dieskau's  army,  that  was 
killed,  who  had  a  dozen  of  the  shining  things  sewed  up  in 
his  shirt.  I  didn't  handle  them  myself,  but  I  seen  them 
cut  out  with  my  own  eyes;  they  was  bigger  and  brighter 
than  them  be." 

"  These  are  English  guineas,  and  are  yours,  said  Eliza- 
beth; "an  earnest  of  what  shall  be  done  for  you." 

"  Me  !  why  should  you  give  me  this  treasure  ?  "  said 
Natty,  looking  earnestly  at  the  maiden. 

"Why!  have  you  not  saved  my  life?  did  you  not  rescue 
from  the  taws  of  the  beast  ? "  exclaimed  Elizabeth, 
veiling  her  eyes,  as  if  to  hide  some  hideous  object  from 
ner  view. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


363 


The  hunter  took  the  money,  and  continued  turning  it 
in  his  hand  for  some  time,  piece  by  piece,  talking  aloud 
during  the  operation. 

"  There's  a  rifle,  they  say,  out  on  the  Cherry  Valley,  that 
will  carry  a  hundred  rods  and  kill.  I've  seen  good  guns 
in  my  day,  but  none  quite  equal  to  that.  A  hundred  rods 
with  any  sartainty  is  great  shooting  !  Well,  well — I'm 
old,  and  the  gun  I  have  will  answer  my  time.  Here,  child, 
take  back  your  gold.  But  the  hour  has  come;  I  hear  him 
talking  to  the  cattle,  and  I  must  be  going.  You  won't 
tell  of  us,  gal — you  won't  tell  of  us,  will  ye  ?  " 

"  Tell  of  you  ! "  echoed  Elizabeth.  "  But  take  the 
money,  old  man;  take  the  money,  even  if  you  go  into  the 
mountains." 

"No,  no,"  said  Natty,  shaking  his  head  kindly;  "I 
would  not  rob  you  so  for  twenty  rifles.  But  there's  one 
thing  you  can  do  for  me,  if  ye  will,  that  no  other  is  at 
hand  to  do." 

"  Name  it — name  it." 

"Why,  it's  only  to  buy  a  canister  of  powder;  'twill  cost 
two  silver  dollars.  Benny  Pump  has  the  money  ready, 
but  we  daren't  come  into  the  town  to  get  it.  Nobody  has 
it  but  the  Frenchman.  'Tis  of  the  best,  and  just  suits  a 
rifle.  Will  you  get  it  for  me,  gal  ?  say,  will  you  get  it  for 
me?" 

"Will  I!  I  will  bring  it  to  you,  Leather-Stocking, 
though  I  toil  a  day  in  quest  of  you  through  the  woods. 
But  where  shall  I  find  you,  and  how  ?  " 

"  Where ! "  said  Natty,  musing  a  moment ;  "  to-morrow, 
on  the  Vision;  on  the  very  top  of  the  Vision,  I'll  meet  you, 
child,  just  as  the  sun  gets  over  our  heads.  See  that  it's 
the  fine  grain;  you'll  know  it  by  the  gloss  and  the  price." 

"  I  will  do  it,"  said  Elizabeth,  firmly. 

Natty  now  seated  himself,  and,  placing  his  feet  in  the 
hole,  with  a  slight  effort  he  opened  a  passage  through  into 
the  street.  The  ladies  heard  the  rustling  of  hay,  and  well 
understood  the  reason  why  Edwards  was  in  the  capacity  of 
a  teamster. 

"Come,  Benny,"  said  the  hunter;  "'twill  be  no  darker 
to-night,  for  the  moon  will  rise  in  an  hour." 

"  Stay ! "  exclaimed  Elizabeth ;  "  it  should  not  be  said 
that  you  escaped  in  the  presence  of  the  daughter  of  Judge 
Temple.  Eeturn,  Leather-Stocking,  and  let  us  retire, 
before  you  execute  your  plan." 


364 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Natty  was  about  to  reply,  when  the  approaching  foot- 
steps of  the  jailer  announced  the  necessity  of  his  immedi- 
ate return.  He  had  barely  time  to  regain  his  feet,  and  to 
conceal  the  hole  with  the  bedclothes,  across  which  Benja- 
min very  opportunely  fell,  before  the  key  was  turned,  and 
the  door  of  the  apartment  opened. 

"  Isn't  Miss  Temple  ready  to  go  ?  "  said  the  civil  jailer : 
"  it's  the  usual  hour  for  locking  u«p." 

"I  follow  you,  sir,"  returned  Elizabeth,  "good-night, 
Leather-Stocking." 

ee  It's  a  fine  grain,  gal,  and  I  think  'twill  carry  lead  further 
than  common.  I  am  getting  old,  and  can't  follow  up  the 
game  with  the  step  that  I  used  to  could." 

Miss  Temple  waved  her  hand  for  silence,  and  preceded 
Louisa  and  the  keeper  from  the  apartment.  The  man 
turned  the  key  once,  and  observed  that  he  would  return 
and  secure  his  prisoners,  when  he  had  lighted  the  ladies  to 
the  street.  Accordingly,  they  parted  at  the  door  of  the 
building,  when  the  jailer  retired  to  his  dungeons,  and  the 
ladies  walked,  with  throbbing  hearts,  towards  the  corner. 

"  Now  the  Leather-Stocking  refuses  the  money,"  whis- 
pered Louisa,  "  it  can  all  be  given  to  Mr.  Edwards,  and 
that  added  to  " — 

" Listen !"  said  Elizabeth;  "I  hear  the  rustling  of  the 
hay;  they  are  escaping  at  this  moment.  0!  they  will  be 
detected  instantly ! " 

By  this  time  they  were  at  the  corner,  where  Edwards 
and  Natty  were  in  the  act  of  drawing  the  almost  helpless 
body  of  Benjamin  through  the  aperture.  The  oxen  had 
started  back  from  their  hay,  and  were  standing  with  their 
heads  down  the  street,  leaving  room  for  the  party  to  act  in. 

"  Throw  the  hay  into  the  cart,"  said  Edwards,  "  or  they 
will  suspect  how  it  has  been  done.  Quick,  that  they  may 
not  see  it." 

Natty  had  just  returned  from  executing  this  order, 
when  the  light  of  the  keeper's  candle  shone  through  the 
hole,  and  instantly  his  voice  was  heard  in  the  jail,  exclaim- 
ing for  his  prisoners. 

"What  is  to  be  done  now?"  said  Edwards;  "this 
drunken  fellow  will  cause  our  detection,  and  we  have  not 
a  moment  to  spare." 

"  Who's  drunk,  ye  lubber !  "  muttered  the  steward. 

"A  break -jail !  a  break-jail ! "  shouted  five  or  six  voices 
from  within. 


THE  PIONEERS.  3^5 

"  We  must  leave  him,"  said  Edwards. 

"'Twouldn't  be  kind,  lad,"  returned  Natty;  "he  took 
half  the  disgrace  of  the  stocks  on  himself  to-day,  and  the 
creatur'  has  feeling."  ,  . 

At  this  moment  two  or  three  men  were  heard  issuing 
from  the  door  of  the  "  Bold  Dragoon,"  and  among  them 
the  voice  of  Billy  Kirby. 

"There's  no  moon  yet,"  cried  the  wood-chopper;  but 
'tis  a  clear  night.  Come,  who's  for  home?  Hark!  what 
a  rumpus  they're  kicking  up  in  the  jail— here's  go  and  see 
what  it's  about." 

«  We  shall  be  lost,"  said  Edwards,  "  it  we  don  t  drop 

this  man."  • 
At  that  moment  Elizabeth  moved  close  to  him,  and  said 

rapidly,  in  a  low  voice,— 

"  Lay  him  in  the  cart,  and  start  the  oxen ;  no  one  will 
look  there." 

«  There's  a  woman's  quickness  in  the  thought,   said  the 

^°The  proposition  was  no  sooner  made  than  executed. 
The  steward  was  seated  on  the  hay,  and  enjoined  to  hold 
his  peace,  and  apply  the  goad  that  was  placed  in  his  hand, 
while  the  oxen  were  urged  on.  So  soon  as  this  arrange- 
ment was  completed,  Edwards  and  the  hunter  stole  along 
the  houses  for  a  short  distance,  when  they  disappeared 
through  an  opening  that  led  into  the  rear  of  the  build- 
ings. The  oxen  were  in  brisk  motion,  and  presently  the 
cries  of  pursuit  were  heard  in  the  street.  The  ladies 
quickened  their  pace,  with  a  wish  to  escape  the  crowd  of 
constables  and  idlers  that  were  approaching,  some  execra- 
ting, and  some  laughing  at  the  exploit  of  the  prisoners. 
In  the  confusion,  the  voice  of  Kirby  was  plainly  distin- 
guishable above  all  the  others,  shouting  and  swearing  that 
he  would  have  the  fugitives,  threatening  to  bring  back 
Natty  in  one  pocket,  and  Benjamin  in  the  other. 

"Spread  yourselves,  men,"  he  cried,  as  he  passed  the 
ladies,  his  heavy  feet  sounding  along  the  street  like  the 
tread  of  a  dozen;  "spread  yourselves;  to  the  mountains; 
they'll  be  in  the  mountain  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  and 
then  look  out  for  a  long  rifle." 

His  cries  were  echoed  from  twenty  mouths,  for  not  only 
the  jail,  but  the  taverns  had  sent  forth  their  numbers, 
some  earnest  in  the  pursuit,  and  others  joining  it  as  in 
sport. 


366  THE  PIONEERS. 

As  Elizabeth  turned  in  at  her  father's  gate,  she  saw  the 
wood-chopper  stop  at  the  cart,  when  she  gave  Benjamin  up 
for  lost.  While  they  were  hurrying  up  the  walk,  two 
figures  stealing  cautiously  but  quickly  under  the  shades  of 
the  trees,  met  the  eyes  of  the  ladies,  and  in  a  moment  Ed- 
wards and  the  hunter  crossed  their  path. 

"  Miss  Temple,  I  may  never  see  you  again,"  exclaimed 
the  youth:  " :let  me  thank  you  for  all  your  kindness ;  you 
do  not,  cannot  know  my  motives." 

"Fly!  fly!"  cried  Elizabeth:  "the  village  is  alarmed. 
Do  not  be  found  conversing  with  me  at  such  a  moment) 
and  in  these  grounds." 

"  Nay,  I  must  speak,  though  detection  were  certain." 

"Your  retreat  to  the  bridge  is  already  cut  off;  before 
you  can  gain  the  wood  your  pursuers  will  be  there.    If  "— 

"  If  what  ?  "  cried  the  youth.  '?  Your  advice  has  saved 
me  once  already;  I  will  follow  it  to  death." 

"The  street  is  now  silent  and  vacant,"  said  Elizabeth, 
after  a  pause;  "cross  it,  and  you  will  find  my  father's  boat 
in  the  lake.  It  would  be  easy  to  land  from  it  where  you 
please  in  the  hills." 

"But  Judge  Temple  might  complain  of  the  trespass." 

"  His  daughter  shall  be  accountable,  sir." 

The  youth  uttered  something  in  a  low  voice,  that  was 
heard  only  by  Elizabeth,  and  turned  to  execute  what  she 
had  suggested.  As  they  were  separating,  Natty  approached 
the  females,  and  said, — 

/'"You'll  remember  the  canister  of  powffer,  children. 
Them  beavers  must  be  had,  and  I  and  the  pups  be  getting 
old ;  we  want  the  best  of  ammunition." 

"  Come,  Natty,"  said  Edwards,  impitiently. 

"  Coming,  lad,  coming.  God  bless  you,  young  ones,  both 
of  ye,  for  ye  mean  well  and  kindly  to"  the  old  man." 

The  ladies  paused  until  they  had  lost  sight  of  the  re- 
treating figures,  when  they  immediately  entered  the  Man- 
sion-house. 

While  this  scene  was  passing  in  the  walk.  Kirby  had 
overtaken  the  cart,  which  was  his  own,  and  had  been  driven 
by  Edwards,  without  asking  the  owner,  from  the  place 
where  the  patient  oxen  usually  stood  at  evening,  waiting 
the.  pleasure  of  their  master. 

"  Woa — come  hither,  Golden,"  he  cried ;  "  why,  how  come 
you  off  the  end  of  the  bridge,  where  I  left  you,  dummies  ?  " 

"  Heave  ahead !  "  muttered  Benjamin,  giving  a  random 


THE  PIONEERS. 


367 


blow  with  his  lash,  that  aligjited  on  the  shoulder  of  the 
other. 

"Who  the  devil  be  you  ?"  cried  Billy,  turning  round  in 
surprise,  but  unable  to  distinguish,  in  the  dark,  the  hard 
visage  that  was  just  peering  over  the  cart-rails. 

"  Who  be  I  ?'  why  I'm  helmsman  aboard  of  this  hen; 
craft,  d'ye  see,  and  a  straight  wake I'm  making  of  it.  Aye, 
aye !  I've  got  the  bridge  right  ahead,  and  the  bilboes  dead 
aft ;  I  calls  that  good  steerage,  boy.    Heave  ahead !  " 

"  Lay  your  lash  in  the  right  spot,  Mr.  Benny  Pump,"  said 
the  wood-chopper,  "or  I'll  put  you  in  the  palm  of  my 
hand,  and  box  your  ears.  Where  be  you  going  with  my 
team  ?  " 

"Team!" 

"Aye,  my  cart  and  oxen." 

"  Why,  you  must  know,  Master  Kirby,  that  the  Leather- 
Stocking  and  I— that's  Benny  Pump— you  knows  Ben  ?— 
well,  Benny  and  I — no,  me  and  Benny;  dam'me  if  I  know 
how  'tis ;  but  some  of  us  are  bound  after  a  cargo  of  beaver- 
skins,  d'ye  see,  and  so  we've  pressed  the  cart  to  ship  them 
'ome  in.  I  say,  Master  Kirby,  what  a  lubberly  oar  you 
pull— you  handle  an  oar,  boy,  pretty  much  as  a  cow  would 
a  musket,  or  a  lady  would  a  marlingspike." 

Billy  had  discovered  the  state  of  the  steward's  mind,  and  . 
he  walked  for  some  time  alongside  of  the  cart,  musing  with 
himself,  when  he  took  the  goad  from  Benjamin  (who  fell 
back  on  the  hay  and  was  soon  asleep),  and  drove  his  cattle 
down  the  street,  over  the  bridge,  and  up  the  mountain, 
towards  a  clearing,  in  which  he  was  to  work  the  next  day, 
without  any  other  interruption  than  a  few  hasty  questions 
from  parties  of  the  constables. 

Elizabeth  stood  for  an  hour  at  the  window  of  her  room, 
and  saw  the  torches  of  the  pursuers  gliding  along  the  side 
of  the  mountain,  and  heard  their  shouts  and  alarms ;  but, 
at  the  end  of  that  time,  the  last  party  returned,  wearied 
and  disappointed,  and  the  village  became  as  still  as  when 
she  issued  from  the  gate  on  her  mission  to  the  jail. 


368 


THE  PIONEERS. 


CHAPTER  XXXVL 

"  And  I  could  weep     th1  Oneida  chief 
His  descant  wildly  thus  begun— 
But  that  I  may  not  stain  with  grief 
The  death  song  of  my  father's  son." 

Gertrude  of  Wyoming. 

It  was  yet  early  on  the  following  morning,  when  Eliza- 
beth and  Louisa  met  by  appointment,  and  proceeded  to 
the  store  of  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  in  order  to  redeem  the 
pledge  the  former  had  given  to  the  Leather-Stocking. 
The  people  were  again  assembling  for  the  business  of  the 
day,  but  the  hour  was  too  soon  for  a  crowd,  and  the  ladies 
found  the  place  in  possession  of  its  polite  owner,  Billy 
Kirby,  one  female  customer,  and  the  boy  who  did  the  duty 
of  helper  or  clerk. 

Monsieur  Le  Quoi  was  perusing  a  packet  of  letters  with 
manifest  delight,  while  the  wood-chopper,  with  one  hand 
thrust  in  his  bosom,  and  the  other  in  the  folds  of  his 
jacket,  holding  an  axe  under  his  right  arm,  stood  sym- 
pathizing in  the  Frenchman's  pleasure  with  good-natured 
interest.  The  freedom  of  manners  that  prevailed  in  the 
new  settlements  commonly  leveled  all  difference  in  rank, 
and  with  it,  frequently,  all  considerations  of  education  and 
intelligence.  At  the  time  the  ladies  entered  the  store,  they 
were  unseen  by  the  owner,  who  was  saying  to  Kirby, — 

"  Ah  !  ha  !  Monsieur  Beel,  dis  lettair  mak  me  de  most 
happi  of  mans.  Ah !  ma  chere  France  !  I  vill  see  you 
aga'n." 

"I  rejoice,  Monsieur,  at  anything  that  contributes  to 
your  happiness,"  said  Elizabeth,  "but  hope  we  are  not 
going  to  lose  you  entirely." 

The  complaisant  shopkeeper  changed  the  language  to 
French,  and  recounted  rapidly  to  Elizabeth  his  hopes  of 
being  permitted  to  return  to  his  own  country.  Habit  had, 
however,  so  far  altered  the  manners  of  this  pliable  person- 
age, that  he  continued  to  serve  the  wood-chopper,  who  was 
in  quest  of  some  tobacco,  while  he  related  to  his  more 


THE  PIONEERS. 


3^9 


gentle  visitor  the  happy  change  that  had  taken  place  in 
the  dispositions  of  his  own  countrymen. 

The  amount  of  it  all  was,  that  Mr.  Le  Qtloi,  who  had  fled 
from  his  own  country  more  through  terror  than  because 
he  was  offensive  to  the  ruling  powers  in  France,  had  suc- 
ceeded at  length  in  getting  an  assurance,  that  his  return 
to  the  West  Indies  would  be  unnoticed ;  and  the  French 
man,  who  had  sunk  into  the  character  of  a  country  shop- 
keeper with  so  much  grace,  was  about  to  emerge  again 
from  his  obscurity  into  his  proper  level  in  society. 

We  need  not  repeat  the  civil  things  that  passed  between 
the  parties  on  this  occasion,  nor  recount  the  endless  repe- 
titions of  sorrow  that  the  delighted  Frenchman  expressed, 
at  being  compelled  to  quit  the  society  of  Miss  Temple. 
Elizabeth  took  an  opportunity,  during  this  expenditure 
of  polite  expressions,  to  purchase  the  powder  privately  of 
the  boy,  who  bore  the  generic  appellation  of  Jonathan. 
Before  they  parted,  however,  Mr.  Le  Quoi,  who  seemed  to 
think  that  he  had  not  said  enough,  solicited  the  honor  of 
a  private  interview  with  the  heiress,  with  a  gravity  in  his 
air  that  announced  the  importance  of  the  subject.  After 
conceding  the  favor,  and  appointing  a  more  favorable  time 
for  the  meeting,  Elizabeth  succeeded  in  getting  out  of  the 
store,  into  which  the  countrymen  now  began  to  enter,  as 
usual,  where  they  met  the  same  attention  and  bienseance 
as  formerly. 

Elizabeth  and  Louisa  pursued  their  walk  as  far  as  the 
bridge  in  profound  silence;  but  when  they  reached  that 
place,  the  latter  stopped,  and  appeared  anxious  to  utter 
something  that  her  diffidence  suppressed. 

"  Are  you  ill,  Louisa  ?  "  exclaimed  Miss  Temple ;  "  had 
we  not  better  return,  and  seek  another  opportunity  to  meet 
the  old  man  ?  " 

"  Not  ill,  but  terrified.  0  !  I  never,  never  can  go  on 
that  hill  again  with  you  only.  I  am  not  equal  to  it,  indeed 
I  am  not." 

This  was  an  unexpected  declaration  to  Elizabeth,  who 
although  she  experienced  no  idle  apprehension  of  a  danger 
that  no  longer  existed,  felt  most  sensitively  all  the  delicacy 
of  maiden  modesty.  She  stood  for  some  time,  deeply  re- 
flecting within  herself;  but,  sensible  it  was  a  time  for 
action  instead  of  reflection,  she  struggled  to  shake  off  her 
hesitation,  and  replied  firmly, — 

"  Well,  then  it  must  be  done  by  me  alone.    There  is  no 


37o 


THE  PIONEERS. 


other  than  yourself  to  be  trusted,  or  poor  old  Leather- 
Stocking  will  be  discovered.  Wait  for  me  in  the  edge  of 
these  woods,  th*t  at  least  I  may  not  be  seen  strolling  in 
the  hills  by  myself  just  now.  One  would  not  wish  to  create 
remarks,  Louisa — if — if —  You  will  wait  for  me,  dear 
girl?" 

"  A  year,  in  sight  of  the  village,  Miss  Temple,"  returned 
the  agitated  Louisa,  "  but  do  not,  do  not  ask  me  to  go  on 
that  hill/ 

Elizabeth  found  that  her  companion  was  really  unable  to 
proceed,  and  they  completed  their  arrangement  by  posting 
Louisa  out  of  the  observation  of  the  people  who  occasionally 
passed,  but  nigh  the  road,  and  in  plain  view  of  the  whole 
valley.  Miss  Temple  then  proceeded  alone.  She  ascended 
the  road  which  has  been  so  often  mentioned  in  our  narra- 
tive, with  an  elastic  and  firm  step,  fearful  that  the  delay 
in  the  store  of  Mr.  Le  Quoi,  and  the  time  necessary  for 
reaching  the  summit,  would  prevent  her  being  punctual 
to  the  appointment.  Whenever  she  passed  an  opening  in 
the  bushes,  she  would  pause  for  breath,  or,  perhaps,  drawn 
from  her  pursuit  by  the  picture  at  her  feet,  would  linger  a 
moment  to  gaze  at  the  beauties  of  the  valley.  The  long 
drought  had,  however,  changed  its  coat  of  verdure  to  a 
hue  of  brown,  and,  though  the  same  localities  were  there, 
the  view  wanted  the  lively  and  cheering  aspect  of  early 
summer.  Even  the  heavens  seemed  to  share  in  the  dried 
appearance  of  the  earth,  for  the  sun  was  concealed  by  a 
haziness  in  the  atmosphere,  which  looked  like  a  thin 
smoke  without  a  particle  of  moisture,  if  such  a  thing  were 
possible.  The  blue  sky  was  scarcely  to  be  seen,  though 
now  and  then  there  was  a  faint  lighting  up  in  spots, 
through  which  masses  of  rolling  vapor  could  be  discerned 
gathering  around  the  horizon,  as  if  nature  were  struggling 
to  collect  her  floods  for  the  relief  of  man.  The  very  at- 
mosphere that  Elizabeth  inhaled  was  hot  and  dry,  and  by 
the  time  she  reached  the  point  where  the  course  led  her 
from  the  highway,  she  experienced  a  sensation  like  suffo- 
cation. But,  disregarding  her  feelings,  she  hastened  to 
execute  her  mission,  dwelling  on  nothing  but  the  disap- 
pointment, and  even  the  helplessness,  the  hunter  would 
experience,  without  her  aid. 

On  the  summit  of  the  mountain  which  Judge  Temple 
had  named  the  "  Vision,"  a  little  spot  had  been  cleared,  in 
order  that  a  better  view  might  be  obtained  of  the  village 


THE  PIONEERS.  37 1 


and  the  valley.  At  this  point  Elizabeth  understood  the 
hunter  she  was  to  meet  him;  and  thither  she  urged  her 
way,  as  expeditiously  as  the  difficulty  of  the  ascent,  and 
the  impediments  of  a  forest,  in  a  state  of  nature  would 
admit.  Numberless  were  the  fragments  of  rocks  trunks 
of  fallen  trees,  and  branches,  with  which  she  had  to  con- 
tend; but  every  difficulty  vanished  before  her  resolution 
and  by  her  own  watch,  she  stood  on  the  desired  spot  several 
minutes  before  the  appointed  hour.  . 

After  resting  a  moment  on  the  end  of  a  log,  Miss  1  emple 
cast  a  glance  about  her  in  quest  of  her  old  friend,  but  he 
was  evidently  not  in  the  clearing;  she  arose  and  walked 
around  its  skirts,  examining  every  place  where  she  thought 
it  probable  Natty  might  deem  it  prudent  to  conceal  him- 
self Her  search  was  fruitless;  and,  after  exhausting  not 
only  herself,  but  her  conjectures,  in  efforts  to  discover  or 
imagine  his  situation,  she  ventured  to  trust  her  voice  m 
that  solitary  place.  A 
"Natty!  Leather-Stocking!  old  man VI  she  called  aloud, 
in  every  direction;  but  no  answer  was  given,  excepting 
the  reverberations  of  her  own  clear  tones,  as  they  were 
echoed  in  the  parched  forest.  . 

Elizabeth  approached  the  brow  of  the  mountain,  where 
a  faint  cry,  like  the  noise  produced  by  striking  the  hand 
against  the  mouth,  at  the  same  time  that  the  breath  is 
strongly  exhaled,  was  heard  answering  to  her  own  voice. 
Not  doubting  in  the  least  that  it  was  the  Leather-Stock- 
ing lving  in  wait  for  her,  and  who  gave  that  signal  to  in- 
dicate the  place  where  he  was  to  be  found,  Elizabeth  de- 
scended for  near  a  hundred  feet,  until  she  gained  a  little 
natural  terrace,  thinly  scattered  with  trees,  that  grew  m 
the  fissures  of  the  rocks,  which  were  covered  by  a  scanty 
soil.  She  had  advanced  to  the  edge  of  this  platform,  and 
was  gazing  over  the  perpendicular  precipice  that  formed 
its  face,  when  a  rustling  among  the  dry  leaves  near  her 
drew  her  eyes  in  another  direction.  Our  heroine  certainly 
was  startled  by  the  object  that  she  then  saw,  but  a  moment 
restored  her  self-possession,  and  she  advanced  firmly,  and 
with  some  interest  in  her  manner,  to  the  spot. 

Mohegan  was  seated  on  the  trunk  of  a  fallen  oak,  with 
his  tawny  visage  turned  towards  her,  and  his  eyes  fixed  on 
her  face  with  an  expression  of  wildness  and  fire,  that  would 
have  terrified  a  less  resolute  female.  His  blanket  had 
fallen  from  his  shoulders,  and  was  lying  m  folds  around 


372 


THE  PIONEERS. 


him,  leaving  his  breast,  arms,  and  most  of  his  body  bare. 
The  medallion  of  Washington  reposed  on  his  chest,  a 
badge  of  distinction  that  Elizabeth  well  knew  he  only 
produced  on  great  and  solemn  occasions.  But  the  whole 
appearance  of  the  aged  chief  was  more  studied  than  com- 
mon, and  in  some  particulars  it  was  terrific.  The  long 
black  hair  was  plaited  on  his  head,  falling  away,  so  as  to 
expose  his  high  forehead  and  piercing  eyes.  In  the  enor- 
mous incisions  of  his  ears  were  entwined  ornaments  of  sil- 
ver, beads,  and  porcupine's  quills,  mingled  in  a  rude  taste, 
and  after  the  Indian  fashions.  A  large  drop,  composed  of 
similar  materials,  was  suspended  from  the  cartilage  of  his 
nose,  and,  falling  below  his  lips,  rested  on  his  chin. 
Streaks  of  red  paint  crossed  his  wrinkled  brow,  and  were 
traced  down  his  cheeks,  with  such  variations  in  the  lines 
as  caprice  or  custom  suggested.  His  body  was  also  colored 
in  the  same  manner;  the  whole  exhibiting  an  Indian  war- 
rior, prepared  for  some  event  of  more  than  usual  moment. 

"John!  how  fare  you,  worthy  John  ?  "  said  Elizabeth, 
as  she  approached  him ;  "  you  have  long  been  a  stranger  in 
the  village.  You  promised  me  a  willow  basket,  and  I  have 
long  had  a  shirt  of  calico  in  readiness  for  you." 

The  Indian  looked  steadily  at  her  for  some  time  with- 
out answering,  and  then,  shaking  his  head,  he  replied,  in 
his  low,  guttural  tones, — 

"  J ohn's  hand  can  make  baskets  no  more — he  wants  no 
shirt." 

"  But  if  he  should,  he  will  know  where  to  come  for  it," 
returned  Miss  Temple.  "  Indeed,  old  John,  I  feel  as  if  you 
had  a  natural  right  to  order  what  you  will  from  us." 

"  Daughter,"  said  the  Indian,  "  listen :  Six  times  ten  hot 
summers  have  passed  since  John  was  young;  tall  like  a 
pine ;  straight  like  the  bullet  of  Hawkeye ;  strong  as  the 
buffalo;  spry  as  the  cat  of  the  mountain.  He  was  strong, 
and  a  warrior  like  the  Young  Eagle.  If  his  tribe  wanted 
to  track  the  Maquas  for  many  suns,  the  eye  of  Chingach- 
gook  found  the  print  of  their  moccasins.  If  the  people 
feasted  and  were  glad,  as  they  counted  the  scalps  of  their 
enemies,  it  was  on  his  pole  they  hung.  If  the  squaws 
cried  because  there  was  no  meat  for  their  children,  he  was 
the  first  in  the  chase.  His  bullet  was  swifter  than  the 
deer.  Daughter,  then  Chingachgook  struck  his  tomahawk 
into  the  trees;  it  was  to  tell  the  lazy  ones  where  to  find 
him  and  the  Mingos — but  he  made  no  baskets." 


THE  PIONEERS. 


373 


"Those  times  have  gone  by,  old  warrior,"  returned 
Elizabeth;  "since  then  your  people  have  disappeared, and, 
in  place  of  chasing  your  enemies,  you  have  learned  to  fear 
God  and  to  live  at  peace." 

"Stand  here,  daughter,  where  you  can  see  the  great 
spring,  the  wigwams  of  your  father,  and  the  land  on  the 
Crooked  IUver.  John  was  young  when  his  tribe  gave 
away  the  country,  in  council,  from  where  the  blue  moun- 
tain stands  above  the  water,  to  where  the  Susquehanna  is 
hid  by  the  trees.  All  this,  and  all  that  grew  in  it,  and  all 
that  walked  over  it,  and  all  that  fed  there,  they  gave  to 
the  Fire-eater— for  they  loved  him.  He  was  strong,  and 
they  were  women,  and  he  helped  them.  No  Delaware 
would  kill  a  deer  that  ran  in  his  woods,  nor  stop  a  bird 
that  flew  over  his  land;  for  it  was  his.  Has  John  lived  m 
peace  ?  Daughter,  since  John  was  young,  he  has  seen  the 
white  man  from  Frontenac  come  down  on  his  white 
brothers  at  Albany  and  fight.  Did  they  fear  God  ?  He 
has  seen  his  English  and  his  American  fathers  burying 
their  tomahawks  in  each  other's  brains,  for  this  very  land. 
Did  they  fear  God,  and  live  in  peace  ?  He  has  seen  the 
land  pass  away  from  the  Fire-eater,  and  his  children,  and 
the  child  of  his  child,  and  a  new  chief  set  over  the  coun- 
try. Did  they  live  in  peace  who  did  this  ?  did  they  fear 
God?" 

"  Such  is  the  custom  of  the  whites,  John.  Do  not  the 
Delawares  fight,  and  exchange  their  lands  for  powder,  and 
blankets,  and  merchandise  ?  " 

The  Indian  turned  his  dark  eyes  on  his  companion,  and 
kept  them  there  with  a  scrutiny  that  alarmed  her  a  little. 

"  Where  are  the  blankets  and  merchandise  that  bought 
the  right  of  the  Fire-eater  ?  "  he  replied,  in  a  more  ani- 
mated voice;  "are  they  with  him  in  his  wigwam?  Did 
they  say  to  him,  Brother,  sell  us  your  land,  and  take  this 
gold,  this  silver,  these  blankets,  these  rifles,  or  even  this 
rum  ?  No;  they  tore  it  from  him,  as  a  scalp  is  torn  from 
an  enemy ;  and  they  that  did  it  looked  not  behind  them, 
to  see  whether  he  lived  or  died.  Do  such  men  live  in 
peace,  and  fear  the  Great  Spirit  ?  " 

"But  you  hardly  understand  the  circumstances,"  said 
Elizabeth,  more  embarrassed  than  she  would  own,  even  to 
herself.  "  If  you  knew  our  laws  and  customs  better,  you 
would  judge  differently  of  our  acts.  Do  not  believe  evil 
of  my  father,  old  Mohegan,  for  he  is  just  and  good," 


374 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  The  brother  of  Miquon  is  good,  and  he  will  do  right. 
I  have  said  it  to  Hawkeye — I  have  said  it  to  the  Young 
Eagle,  that  the  brother  of  Miquon  would  do  justice." 

"Whom  call  you  the  Young  Eagle?"  said  Elizabeth, 
averting  her  face  from  the  gaze  of  the  Indian,  as  she  asked 
the  question ;  "  whence  comes  he,  and  what  are  his  rights  ?  " 

"  Has  my  daughter  lived  so  long  with  him  to  ask  this 
question  ?  "  returned  the  Indian  warily.  "  Old  age  freezes 
up  the  blood,  as  the  frosts  cover  the  great  spring  in  winter; 
but  youth  keeps  the  streams  of  the  blood  open  like  a  sun 
in  the  time  of  blossoms.  The  Young  Eagle  has  eyes;  had 
he  no  tongue  ?  " 

The  loveliness  to  which  the  old  warrior  alluded  was  in 
no  degree  diminished  by  his  allegorical  speech;  for  the 
blushes  of  the  maiden  who  listened  covered  her  burning 
cheeks,  till  her  dark  eyes  seemed  to  glow  with  their  reflec- 
tion; but,  after  struggling  a  moment  with  shame,  she 
laughed,  as  if  unwilling  to  understand  him  seriously,  and 
replied  in  pleasantry, — 

"  Not  to  make  me  the  mistress  of  his  secret.  He  is  too 
much  of  a  Delaware  to  tell  his  secret  thoughts  to  a  woman." 

"  Daughter,  the  Great  Spirit  made  your  father  with  a 
white  skin,  and  he  made  mine  with  a  red;  but  he  colored 
both  their  hearts  with  blood.  When  young,  it  is  swift  and 
warm ;  but  when  old,  it  is  still  and  cold.  Is  there  differ- 
ence below  the  skin  ?  No.  Once  John  had  a  woman.  She 
was  the  mother  of  so  many  sons" — he  raised  his  hand  with 
three  fingers  elevated — "  and  she  had  daughters  that  would 
have  made  the  young  Delawares  happy.  She  was  kind, 
daughter,  and  what  I  said  she  did.  You  have  different 
fashions;  but  do  you  think  John  did  not  love  the  wife  of 
his  youth — the  mother  of  his  children  ?  " 

"And  what  has  become  of  your  family,  John,  your  wife 
and  your  children?"  asked  Elizabeth,  touched  by  the  In- 
dian's manner. 

"  Where  is  the  ice  that  covered  the  great  spring  ?  It  is 
melted,  and  gone  with  the  waters.  John  has  lived  till  all 
his  people  have  left  him  for  the  land  of  spirits;  his  time 
has  come,  and  he  is  ready." 

Mohegan  dropped  his  head  in  his  blanket,  and  sat  in 
silence.  Miss  Temple  knew  not  what  to  say.  She  wished 
to  draw  the  thoughts  of  the  old  warrior  from  his  gloomy 
recollections,  but  there  was  a  dignity  in  his  sorrow,  and  in 
his  fortitude,  that  repressed  his  efforts  to  speak.    After  a 


THE  PIONEERS. 


37 5 


long  pause,  however,  she  renewed  the  discourse,  by  ask- 

m*  Where  is  the  Leather-Stocking,  John  ?  I  have  brought 
this  canister  of  powder  at  his  request;  but  he  is  nowhere 
to  be  seen.  Will  you  take  charge  of  it,  and  see  it  de- 
livered?" 

The  Indian  raised  his  head  slowly,  and  looked  earnestly 
at  the  gift,  which  she  put  into  his  hand. 

<■<  This  is  the  great  enemy  of  my  nation.  Without  this 
when  could  the  white  men  drive  the  Delawares  ?  Daugh- 
ter, the  Great  Spirit  gave  your  fathers  to  know  how  to 
make  guns  and  powder,  that  they  might  sweep  the  Indians 
from  the  land.  There  will  soon  be  no  red-skm  m  the 
country.  When  John  is  gone,  the  last  will  leave  these 
hills,  and  his  family  will  be  dead."  The  aged  warrior 
stretched  his  body  forward,  leaning  an  elbow  on  his  knee, 
and  appeared  to  be  taking  a  parting  look  at  the  objects  of 
the  vale,  which  were  still  visible  through  the  misty  atmos- 
phere, though  the  air  seemed  to  thicken  at  each  moment 
around  Miss  Temple,  who  became  conscious  of  an  in- 
creased difficulty  of  respiration.  The  eye  of  Mohegaii 
changed  gradually  from  its  sorrowful  expression  to  a  look 
of  wildness  that  might  be  supposed  to  border  on  the  in- 
spiration of  a  prophet,  as  he  continued,  "  But  he  will  go 
to  the  country  where  his  fathers  have  met.  The  game 
shall  be  plenty  as  the  fish  in  the  lakes.  No  woman  shall 
cry  for  meat ;  no  Mingo  can  ever  come.  The  chase  shall  be 
for  children;  and  all  just  red-men  shall  live  together  as 
brothers." 

"John!  this  is  not  the  heaven  of  a  Christian!"  cried 
Miss  Temple;  "you  deal  now  in  the  superstition  of  your 
forefathers." 

"  Fathers !  sons ! "  said  Mohegan  with  firmness,  '  all 
g0ne_all  gone!  I  have  no  son  but  the  Young  Eagle,  and 
he  has  the  blood  of  a  white  man." 

"  Tell  me,  John,"  said  Elizabeth,  willing  to  draw  his 
thoughts  to  other  subjects,  and  at  the  same  time  yielding 
to  her  own  powerful  interest  in  the  youth;  "who  is  this 
Mr.  Edwards  ?  why  are  you  so  fond  of  him,  and  whence 
does  he  come  ?  " 

The  Indian  started  at  the  question,  which  evidently  re- 
called his  recollection  to  earth.  Taking  her  hand,  he 
drew  Miss  Temple  to  a  seat  beside  him,  and  pointed  to  the 
country  beneath  them : — 


37$ 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"See,  daughter/"  he  said,  directing  her  looks  towards 
the  north;  "as  far  as  your  young  eyes  can  see,  it  was  the 
land  of  his  " — 

But  immense  volumes  of  smoke  at  that  moment  rolled 
over  their  heads,  and,  whirling  in  the  eddies  formed  by 
the  mountains,  interposed  a  barrier  to  their  sight,  while 
he  was  speaking.  Startled  by  this  circumstance,  Miss 
Temple  sprang  on  her  feet,  and  turning  her  eyes  towards 
the  summit  of  the  mountain,  she  beheld  it  covered  by  a 
similar  canopy,  while  a  roaring  sound  was  heard  in  the 
forest  above  her  like  the  rushing  of  winds. 

"  What  means  it,  John !  "  she  exclaimed ;  "  we  are  en- 
veloped in  smoke,  and  I  feel  a  heat  like  the  glow  of  a 
furnace." 

Before  the  Indian  could  reply,  a  voice  was  heard  crying 
in  the  woods, — 

"  J ohn !  where  are  you,  old  Mohegan !  the  woods  are  on 
fire,  and  you  have  but  a  minute  for  escape/' 

The  chief  put  his  hand  before  his  mouth,  and  making  it 
play  on  his  lips,  produced  the  kind  of  noise  that  had  at- 
tracted Elizabeth  to  the  place,  when  a  quick  and  hurried 
step  was  heard  dashing  through  the  dried  underbrush  and 
bushes,  and  presently  Edwards  rushed  to  his  side,  with 
horror  in  every  feature. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Love  rules  the  court,  the  camp,  the  grove. 

Lay  op  the  Last  Minstrel. 

"  It  would  have  been  sad,  indeed,  to  lose  you  in  such  a 
manner,  my  old  friend,"  said  Oliver,  catching  his  breath 
for  utterance.  "  Up  and  away !  even  now  we  may  be  too 
late;  the  flames  are  circling  round  the  point  of  the  rock 
below,  and,  unless  we  can  pass  there,  our  only  chance  must 
be  over  the  precipice.  Away!  away!  shake  off  your  apathy, 
John;  now  is  the  time  of  need." 

Mohegan  pointed  towards  Elizabeth,  who  forgetting  her 
danger,  had  shrunk  back  to  a  projection  of  the  rock  as 
soon  as  she  recognized  the  sounds  of  Edwards'  voice,  and 
said  with  something  like  awakened  animation, — 

"  Save  her — leave  John  to  die." 


THE  PIONEERS.  377 

"Her'  whom  mean  you?"  cried  the  you^h,  turning 
quickly  to  the  place  the  other  indicated:  but  when  he  saw 
the  figure  of  Elizabeth  bending  towards  him  m  an  attitude 
that  powerfully  spoke  terror,  blended  with  reluctance  to 
meet  him  in  such  a  place,  the  shock  deprived  him  ot 

SP"eMi'ss  Temple!"  he  cried,  when  he  found  words;  "you 
here!  is  such  a  death  reserved  for  you!  "  _  _ 

"No  no,  no:  no  death,  I  hope,  for  any  of  us,  JVLr.  Ed- 
wards," she  replied,  endeavoring  to  speak  calmly:  "there 
is  smoke,  but  no  fire  to  harm  us.  Let  us  endeavor  to  re- 
tire " 

"Take  my  arm,"  said  Edwards;  "there  must  be  an 
opening  in  some  direction  for  your  retreat.   Are  you  equal 

to  the  eft ort  ?  " 

"  Certainly.  You  surely  magnify  the?  danger,  Mr.  Ed- 
wards.   Lead  me  out  the  way  you  came."  m 

"  I  will— I  will,"  cried  the  youth  with  a  kind  of  hysteri- 
cal utterance.  "No,  no;  there  is  no  danger— I  have 
alarmed  you  unnecessarily." 

"  But  shall  we  leave  the  Indian  —can  we  leave  him,  as 

he  says,  to  die  ? "  .  _       .       .  ,, 

An  expression  of  painful  emotion  crossed  the  face  ot  the 
young  man;  he  stopped,  and  cast  a  longing  look  at  Mohe- 
gan-  but,  dragging  his  companion  after  him,  even  against 
her  will,  he  pursued  his  way  with  enormous  strides  towards 
the  pass,  by  which  he  had  just  entered  the  circle  of  flame. 

"Do  not  regard  him,"  he  said,  in  those  tones  that  denote 
a  desperate  calmness;  "he  is  used  to  the  woods,  and  such 
scenes;  and  he  will  escape  up  the  mountain— over  the 
rock— or  he  can  remain  where  he  is  in  safety." 

"You  thought  not  so  this  moment,  Edwards!  Do  not 
leave  him  there  to  meet  with  such  a  death,"  cried  Eliza- 
beth, fixing  a  look  on  the  countenance  of  her  conductor 
that 'seemed  to  distrust  his  sanity. 

"An  Indian  burn!  who  ever  heard  of  an  Indian  dying 
by  fire?  an  Indian  cannot  burn;  the  idea  is  ridiculous. 
Hasten,  hasten,  Miss  Temple,  or  the  smoke  may  incom- 
mode you."  ,  i  -  n 

"Edwards!  your  look,  your  eye,  terrifies  me!  tell  me 
the  danger;  is  it  greater  than  it  seems  ?  I  am  equal  to  any 
trial." 

«  if  we  reach  the  point  of  jon  rock  before  that  sheet  of 
fire,  we  are  safe,  Miss  Temple!"  exclaimed  the  young 


378 


THE  PIONEERS. 


man,  in  a  voice  that  burst  without  the  bounds  of  his  forced 
composure.    "  Fly !  the  struggle  is  for  life !  " 

The  place  of  the  interview  between  Miss  Temple  and 
the  Indian  has  already  been  described  as  one  of  those 
platforms  of  rock,  which  form  a  sort  of  tervace  in  the 
mountains  of  that  country,  and  the  face  of  it,  we  have 
said,  was  both  high  and  perpendicular.  Its  shape  was 
nearly  a  natural  arc,  the  ends  of  which  blended  with  the 
mountain,  at  points  where  its  sides  were  less  abrupt  in  their 
descent.  It  was  round  one  of  these  terminations  of 
the  sweep  of  the  rock  that  Edwards  had  ascended,  and  it 
was  towards  the  same  place  that  he  urged  Elizabeth  to  a 
desperate  exertion  of  speed. 

Immense  clouds  of  white  smoke  had  been  pouring  over 
the  summit  of  the  mountain,  and  had  concealed  the  ap- 
proach and  ravages  of  the  element ;  but  a  crackling  sound 
drew  the  eyes  of  Miss  Temple,  as  she  flew  over  the  ground, 
supported  by  the  young  man,  towards  the  outline  of  smoke, 
where  she  already  perceived  the  waving  flames  shooting 
forward  from  the  vapor,  now  flaring  high  in  the  air,  and 
then  bending  to  the  earth,  seeming  to  light  into  combus- 
tion every  stick  and  shrub  on  which  they  breathed.  The 
sight  aroused  them  to  redoubled  efforts;  but,  unfortu- 
nately, a  collection  of  the  tops  of  trees,  old  and  dried,  lay 
directly  across  their  course ;  and,  at  the  very  moment  when 
both  had  thought  their  safety  insured,  the  warm  currents 
of  the  air  swept  a  forked  tongue  of  flame  across  the  pile, 
which  lighted  at  the  touch ;  and  when  they  reached  the 
spot,  the  flying  pair  were  opposed  by  the  surly  roaring  of 
a  body  of  fire,  as  if  a  furnace  were  glowing  in  their  path. 
They  recoiled  from  the  heat,  and  stood  on  a  point  of  the 
rock,  gazing  in  a  stupor  at  the  flames,  which  were  spread- 
ing rapidly  down  the  mountain,  whose  side  soon  became  a 
sheet  of  living  fire.  It  was  dangerous  for  one  clad  in  the 
light  and  airy  dress  of  Elizabeth  to  approach  even  the 
vicinity  of  the  raging  element;  and  those  flowing  robes, 
that  gave  such  softness  and  grace  to  her  form,  seemed  now 
to  be  formed  for  the  instruments  of  her  destruction. 

The  villagers  were  accustomed  to  resort  to  that  hill  in 
quest  of  timber  and  fuel ;  in  procuring  which,  it  was  their 
usage  to  take  only  the  bodies  of  the  trees,  leaving  the  tops 
and  branches  to  decay  under  the  operations  of  the  weather. 
Much  of  the  hill  was,  consequently,  covered  with  such  light 
fuel,  which,  having  been  scorched  under  the  sun  for  the 


THE  PIONEERS.  379 


last  two  months,  was  ignited  with  a  touch.-  Meed,  m 
some  cases,  there  did  not  appear  to  be  any  contact  between 
the  fire  and  those  piles,  but  the  flames  seemed  to  dart  lrom 
heap  to  heap,  as  the  fabulous  fire  of  the  temple  is  repre- 
sented to  reillume  its  neglected  lamp.    ±1     .  ,  , 
There  was  beauty  as  well  as  terror  m  the  sight,  and  in- 
wards and  Elizabeth  stood  viewing  the  progress  of  the 
desolation,  with  a  strange  mixture  of  horror  and  interest. 
The  former,  however,  shortly  roused  himself  to  new  exer- 
tions, and  drawing  his  companion  after  him,  they  skirted 
the  edge  of  the  smoke,  the  young  man  penetrating  ire- 
queiitly  into  its  dense  volumes  in  search  of  a  passage,  but 
in  every  instance  without  success.    In  this  manner  they 
proceeded  in  a  semicircle  around  the  upper  part  ot  the 
terrace,  until,  arriving  at  the  verge  of  the  precipice  oppo- 
site to  the  point  where  Edwards  had  ascended,  the  horrid 
conviction  burst  on  both  at  the  same  instant,  that  they 
were  completely  encircled  by  the  fire.    So  long  as  a  single 
pass  up  or  down  the  mountain  was  unexplored,  there  was 
hope;  but  when  retreat  seemed  to  be  absolutely  imprac- 
ticable, the  horror  of  their  situation  broke  upon  Elizabeth 
as  powerfully  as  if  she  had  hitherto  considered  the  danger 

llg"This  mountain  is  doomed  to  be  fatal ^ to  me!"  she 
whispered ;  "  we  shall  find  our  graves  on  it ! " 

"  Say  not  so,  Miss  Temple;  there  is  yet  hope,  returned 
the  youth,  in  the  same  tone,  while  the  vacant  expression 
of  his  eye  contradicted  his  words;  "let  us  return  to  the 
point  of  the  rock;  there  is— there  must  be— some  place 
about  it  where  we  can  descend." 

"Lead  me  there,"  exclaimed  Elizabeth;  let  us  leave 
no  effort  untried."  She  did  not  wait  for  his  compliance, 
but,  turning,  retraced  her  steps  to  the  brow  of  the  preci- 
pice, murmuring  to  herself,  in  suppressed,  hysterical  sobs, 
"My  father!  my  poor,  my  distracted  father!  " 

Edwards  was  by  her  side  in  an  instant,  and  with  aching 
eyes  he  examined  every  fissure  in  the  crags,  in  quest  of 
some  opening  that  might  offer  facilities  for  flight.  But 
the  smooth,  even  surface  of  the  rocks  afforded  hardly  a 
resting-place  for  a  foot,  much  less  those  continued  projec- 
tions which  would  have  been  necessary  for  a  descent  oi 
nearly  a  hundred  feet.  Edwards  was  not  slow  m  feeling 
the  conviction  that  this  hope  was  also  futile,  and,  with  a 
kind  of  feverish  despair  that  still  urged  him  to  action,  he 
turned  to  some  new  expedient, 


38o 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"There  is  nothing  left,  Miss  Temple,"  he  said,  "but  to 
lower  you  from  this  place  to  the  rock  beneath.  If  Natty 
were  here,  or  even  that  Indian  could  be  roused,  their  in- 
genuity and  long  practice  would  easily  devise  methods  to 
do  it ;  but  I  am  a  child  at  this  moment  in  everything  but 
daring.  Where  shall  I  find  means  ?  This  dress  of  mine 
is  so  light,  and  there  is  so  little  of  it — then  the  blanket  of 
Mohegan — we  must  try — we  must  try — anything  is  better 
than  to  see  you  a  victim  to  such  a  death  ! " 

"And  what  will  become  of  you  ?  said  Elizabeth.  "In- 
deed, indeed,  neither  you  nor  John  must  be  sacrificed  to 
my  safety." 

He  heard  her  not,  for  he  was  already  by  the  side  of  Mo- 
hegan, who  yielded  his  blanket  without  a  question,  retain- 
ing his  seat  with  Indian  dignity  and  composure,  though 
his  own  situation  was  even  more  critical  than  that  of  the 
others.  The  blanket  was  cut  into  shreds,  and  the  frag- 
ments fastened  together;  the  loose  linen  jacket  of  the 
youth,  and  the  light  muslin  shawl  of  Elizabeth,  were  at- 
tached to  them,  and  the  whole  thrown  over  the  rocks,  with 
the  rapidity  of  lightning;  but  the  united  pieces  did  not 
reach  half-way  to  the  bottom. 

"It  will  not  do— it  will  not  do  \"  cried  Elizabeth;  "for 
me  there  is  no  hope  !  The  fire  comes  slowly,  but  certainly. 
See,  it  destroys  the  very  earth  before  it  ! " 

Had  the  flames  spread  on  that  rock  with  half  the  quick- 
ness with  which  they  leaped  from  bush  to  tree,  in  other 
parts  of  the  mountain,  our  painful  task  would  have  soon 
ended;  for  they  would  have  consumed  already  the  captives 
they  inclosed.  But  the  peculiarity  of  their  situation  af- 
forded Elizabeth  and  her  companion  the  respite  of  which 
they  had  availed  themselves  to  make  the  efforts  we  have 
recorded. 

The  thin  covering  of  earth  on  the  rock  supported  but 
a  scanty  and  faded  herbage,  and  most  of  the  trees  that  had 
found  root  in  the  fissures  had  already  died,  during  the  in- 
tense heats  of  preceding  summers.  Those  which  still  re- 
tained the  appearance  of  life  bore  a  few  dry  and  withered 
leaves,  while  the  others  were  merely  the  wrecks  of  pines, 
oaks,  and  maples.  No  better  materials  to  feed  the  fire 
could  be  found,  had  there  been  a  communication  with  the 
flames;  but  the  ground  was  destitute  of  the  brush  that  led 
the  destructive  element,  like  a  torrent,  over  the  remainder 
of  the  hill.    As  auxiliary  to  this  scarcity  of  fuel,  one  of 


THE  PIONEERS. 


38i 


the  lurg«  springs  which  abound  in  that  country  gushed 
out  of  the  side  of  the  ascent  above,  and,  after  creeping 
sluggishly  along  the  level  land,  saturating  the  mossy  cover- 
ing of  the  rock  with  moisture,  it  swept  round  the  base  of 
the  little  cone  that  formed  the  pinnacle  of  the  mountain, 
and,  entering  the  canopy  of  smoke  near  one  of  the  termina- 
tions of  the  terrace,  found  its  way  to  the  lake,  not  by  dash- 
ing from  rock  to  rock,  but  by  the  secret  channels  of  the 
earth.  It  would  rise  to  the  surface,  here  and  there,  in  the 
wet  seasons,  but  in  the  droughts  of  summer  it  was  to  be 
traced  only  by  the  bogs  and  moss  that  announced  the 
proximity  of  water.  When  the  fire  reached  this  barrier,  it 
was  compelled  to  pause,  until  a  concentration  of  its  heat 
could  overcome  the  moisture,  like  an  army  waiting  the 
operations  of  a  battering  train,  to  open  its  way  to  desola- 
tion. 

That  fatal  moment  seemed  now  to  have  arrived,  for  the 
hissing  steams  of  the  spring  appeared  to  be  nearly  ex- 
hausted, and  the  moss  of  the  rocks  was  already  curling 
under  the  intense  heat,  while  fragments  of  bark,  that  yet 
clung  to  the  dead  trees,  began  to  separate  from  their 
trunks,  and  fall  to  the  ground  in  crumbling  masses.  The 
air  seemed  quivering  with  rays  of  heat,  which  might  be 
seen  playing  along  the  parched  stems  of  the  trees.  There 
were  moments  when  dark  clouds  of  smoke  would  sweep 
along  the  little  terrace ;  and,  as  the  eye  lost  its  power,  the 
other  senses  contributed  to  give  effect  to  the  fearful  horror 
of  the  scene.  At  such  moments,  the  roaring  of  the  flames, 
the  crackling  of  the  furious  element,  with  the  tearing  of  • 
falling  branches,  and,  occasionally,  the  thundering  echoes 
of  some  falling  tree,  united  to  alarm  the  victims.  Of  the 
three,  however,  the  youth  appeared  much  the  most  agi- 
tated. Elizabeth,  having  relinquished  entirely  the  idea^  of 
escape,  was  fast  obtaining  that  resigned  composure  with 
which  the  most  delicate  of  her  sex  are  sometimes  known 
to  meet  unavoidable  evils ;  while  Mohegan,  who  was  much 
nearer  to  the  danger,  maintained  his  seat  with  the  invinci- 
ble resignation  of  an  Indian  warrior.  Once  or  twice  the 
eye  of  the  aged  chief,  which  was  ordinarily  fixed  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  distant  hills,  turned  towards  the  young  pair, 
who  seemed  doomed  to  so  early  a  death,  with  a  slight  in- 
dication of  pity  crossing  his  composed  features,  but  it 
would  immediately  revert  again  to  its  former  gaze,  as  if 
looking  into  the  womb  of  futurity.    Much  of  the  time  he 


THE  PIONEERS. 


was  chanting  a  kind  of  low  dirge,  in  the  Delaware  ton  erne, 
using  the  deep  and  remarkably  guttural  tones  of  his  people! 

"At  such  a  moment,  Mr.  Edwards,  all  earthly  distinctions 
end/'  whispered  Elizabeth;  "persuade  John  to 'move 
nearer  to  us;  let  us  die  together." 

"  I  cannot— he  will  not  stir,"  returned  the  youth,  in  the 
same  horridly  still  tones.  "  He  considers  this  as  the  hap- 
piest moment  of  his  life.  He  is  past  seventy,  and  has  been 
decaying  rapidly  for  some  time:  he  received  some  injury 
m  chasing  that  unlucky  deer,  too,  on  the  lake.  0 !  Miss 
Temple,  that  was  an  unlucky  chase  indeed !  it  has  led,  I 
fear,  to  this  awful  scene." 

The  smile  of  Elizabeth  was  celestial.  "  Why  name  such 
a  trifle  now— at  this  moment  the  heart  is  dead  to  all  earthly 
emotions ! " 

"  If  anything  could  reconcile  a  man  to  this  death,"  cried 
the  youth,  "  it  would  be  to  meet  it  in  such  company ! " 

"  Talk  not  so,  Edwards,  talk  not  so,"  interrupted  Miss 
Temple.  "I  am  unworthy  of  it;  and  it  is  unjust  to  your- 
self. We  must  die;  yes,  yes— we  must  die— it  is  the  will 
of  God,  and  let  us  endeavor  to  submit  like  his  own  chil- 
dren." 

"  Die !  "  the  youth  rather  shrieked  than  exclaimed,  "  No, 
no,  no;  there  must  yet  be  hope;  you  at  least  must  not, 
shall  not  die ! " 

"  In  what  way  can  we  escape  ?  "  asked  Elizabeth,  point- 
ing with  a  look  of  heavenly  composure  towards  the  fire. 
"Observe!  the  flame  is  crossing  the  barrier  of  wet  ground 
.  —it  comes  slowly,  Edwards,  but  surely.  Ah!  see!  the 
tree !  the  tree  is  already  lighted ! " 

.  Her  words  were  too  true.  The  heat  of  the  conflagra- 
tion had  at  length  overcome  the  resistance  of  the  spring, 
and  the  fire  was  slowly  stealing  along  the  half-dried  moss, 
while  a  dead  pine  kindled  with  the  touch  of  a  forked 
flame,  that,  for  a  moment,  wreathed  around  the  stem  of 
the  tree,  as  it  whirled,  in  one  of  its  evolutions,  under  the 
influence  of  the  air.  The  effect  was  instantaneous.'  The 
flames  danced  along  the  parched  trunk  of  the  pine,  like 
lightning  quivering  on  a  chain,  and  immediately  a  column 
of  living  fire  was  raging  on  the  terrace.  It  soon  spread 
from  tree  to  tree:  and  the  scene  was  evidently  drawing  to 
a  close.  The  log  on  which  Mohegan  was  seated  lighted  at 
its  further  end,  and  the  Indian  appeared  to  be  surrounded 
by  fire.    Still  he  was  unmoved.    As  his  body  was  unpro- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


383 


tected,  his  sufferings  must  have  been  great;  out  his  forti- 
tude was  superior  to  all.  His  voice  could  yet  be  heard 
even  in  the  midst  of  these  horrors.  Elizabeth  turned  hejr 
head  from  the  sight,  and  faced  the  valley.  Furious  eddies 
of  wind  were  created  by  the  heat,  and  just  at  the  moment, 
the  canopy  of  fiery  smoke  that  overhung  the  valley  was 
cleared  away,  leaving  a  distinct  view  of  the  peaceful  village 
beneath  them. 

"My  father!— my  father!"  shrieked  Elizabeth.  "0! 
this — this  surely  might  have  been  spared  me — but  I  sub- 
mit." 

The  distance  was  not  so  great  but  the  figure  of  Judge 
Temple  could  be  seen  standing  in  his  own  grounds,  and 
apparently  contemplating,  in  perfect  unconsciousness  of 
the  danger  of  his  child,  the  mountain  in  flames.  This 
sight  was  still  more  painful  than  the  approaching  danger; 
and  Elizabeth  again  faced  the  hill. 

"My  intemperate  warmth  has  done  this!"  cried  Ed- 
wards, in  the  accents  of  despair.  "  If  I  had  possessed  but 
a  moiety  of  your  heavenly  resignation,  Miss  Temple,  all 
might  yet  have  been  well." 

"  Name  it  not — name  it  not,"  she  said.  "  It  is  now  of 
no  avail.  We  must  die,  Edwards,  we  must  die — let  us  do 
so  as  Christians.  But  no;  you  may  yet  escape,  perhaps. 
Your  dress  is  not  so  fatal  as  mine.  Fly!  Leave  me.  An 
opening  may  yet  be  found  for  you,  possibly — certainly  it 
is  worth  the  effort.  Fly !  leave  me — but  stay !  You  will 
see  my  father;  my  poor,  bereaved  father!  Say  to  him, 
then,  Edwards,  say  to  him  all  that  can  appease  his  anguish. 
Tell  him  that  I  died  happy  and  collected;  that  I  have 
gone  to  my  beloved  mother;  that  the  hours  of  this  life  are 
as  nothing  when  balanced  in  the  scales  of  eternity.  Say 
how  we  shall  meet  again.  And  say,"  she  continued,  drop- 
ping her  voice,  that  had  risen  with  her  feelings,  as  if  con- 
scious of  her  worldly  weaknesses,  "how  dear,  how  very 
dear,  was  my  love  for  him :  that  it  was  near,  too  near,  to 
my  love  for  God." 

The  youth  listened  to  her  touching  accents,  but  moved 
not.    In  a  moment  he  found  utterance,  and  replied: — 

"And  is  it  me  that  you  command  to  leave  you !  to  leave 
you  on  the  edge  of  the  grave!  0!  Miss  Temple,  how 
little  have  you  known  me!"  he  cried,  dropping  on  his 
knees  at  her  feet,  and  gathering  her  flowing  robe  in  his 
arms  as  if  to  shield  her  from  the  flames.    "  I  have  been 


3^4 


THE  PIONEERS. 


driven  to  the  woods  in  despair;  but  your  society  has  tamed 
the  lion  within  me.  If  I  have  wasted  my  time  in  degrada- 
tion, 'twas  you  that  charmed  me  to  it.  If  I  have  forgotten 
my  name  and  family,  your  form  supplied  the  place  of 
memory.  If  I  have  forgotten  my  wrongs,  'twas  you  that 
taught  me  charity.  No,  no,  dearest  Elizabeth,  I  may  die 
with  you,  but  I  can  never  leave  you ! " 

Elizabeth  moved  not,  nor  answered.  It  was  plain  that 
her  thoughts  had  been  raised  from  the  earth.  The  recol- 
lection of  her  father,  and  her  regrets  at  their  separation, 
had  been  mellowed  by  a  holy  sentiment,  that  lifted  her 
above  the  level  of  earthly  things,  and  she  was  fast  losing 
the  weakness  of  her  sex  in  the  near  view  of  eternity.  But 
as  she  listened  to  these  words  she  became  once  more 
woman.  She  struggled  against  these  feelings,  and  smiled, 
as  she  thought  she  was  shaking  off  the  last  lingering  feel- 
ing of  nature,  when  the  world,  and  all  its  seductions, 
rushed  again  to  her  heart,  with  the  sounds  of  a  human 
voice,  crying  in  piercing  tones, — 

*■  Gal !  where  be  ye,  gal !  gladden  the  heart  of  an  old 
man,  if  ye  yet  belong  to  'arth ! 99 

"List!"  said  Elizabeth,  "'tis  the  Leather-Stocking;  he 
seeks  me !  " 

"  Tis  Natty !  "  shouted  Edwards,  "  and  we  may  yet  be 
saved ! 99 

A  wide  and  circling  flame  glared  on  their  eyes  for  a 
moment,  even  above  the  fire  of  the  woods,  and  a  loud  re- 
port followed. 

"'Tis  the  canister!  'tis  the  powder,"  cried  the  same 
voice,  evidently  approaching  them.  "  'Tis  the  canister,  and 
the  precious  child  is  lost 

At  the  next  instant  Natty  rushed  through  the  streams 
of  the  spring,  and  appeared  on  the  terrace,  without  his 
deer-skin  cap,  his  hair  burnt  to  his  head,  his  shirt,  of 
country  check,  black  and  filled  with  holes,  and  his  red 
features  of  a  deeper  color  than  ever,  by  the  heat  he  had 
encountered. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


385 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

Even  from  the  land  of  shadows,  now, 
My  father's  awful  ghost  appears. 

Gertrude  of  Wyoming. 

Foe  an  hour  after  ^ouisa  Grant  was  left  by  Miss  Tem- 
ple, in  the  situation  already  mentioned,  she  continued  in 
feverish  anxiety,  awaiting  the  return  of  her  friend.  But 
as  the  time  passed  by  without  the  reappearance  of  Eliza- 
beth, the  terror  of  Louisa  gradually  increased,  until  her 
alarmed  fancy  conjured  every  species  of  danger  that  ap- 
pertained to  the  woods,  excepting  the  one  that  really  ex- 
isted. The  heavens  had  become  obscured  by  degrees,  and 
vast  volumes  of  smoke  were  pouring  over  the  valley;  but 
the  thoughts  of  Louisa  were  still  recurring  to  beasts,  with- 
out dreaming  of  the  real  cause  for  apprehension.  She  was 
stationed  in  the  edge  of  the  low  pines  and  chestnuts  that 
succeed  the  first  or  large  growth  of  the  forest,  and  directly 
above  the  angle  where  the  highway  turned  from  the  straight 
course  to  the  village,  and  ascended  the  mountain,  laterally. 
Consequently,  she  commanded  a  view  not  only  of  the  val- 
ley, but  of  the  road  beneath  her.  The  few  travellers  that 
passed,  she  observed,  were  engaged  in  earnest  conversation, 
and  frequently  raised  their  eyes  to  the  hill,  and  at  length 
she  saw  the  people  leaving  the  court-house,  and  gazing 
upwards  also.  While  under  the  influence  of  the  alarm  ex- 
cited by  such  unusual  movements,  reluctant  to  go,  and  yet 
fearful  to  remain,  Louisa  was  startled  by  the  low,  crack- 
ling, but  cautious  treads  of  some  one  approaching  through 
the  bushes.  She  was  on  the  eve  of  flight,  when  Natty 
emerged  from  the  cover,  and  stood  at  her  side.  The  old 
man  laughed,  as  he  shook  her  kindly  by  a  hand  that  was 
passive  with  fear. 

"I  am  glad  to  meet  you  here,  child,"  he  said;  "for  the 
back  of  the  mountain  is  a-fire,  and  it  would  be  dangerous 
to  go  up  it  now,  till  it  has  been  burnt  over  once,  and  the 
dead  wood  is  gone.  There's  a  foolish  man,  the  comrade 
of  that  varmint  who  has  given  me  all  this  trouble,  digging 


386  THE  PIONEERS. 

for  ore  on  the  east  side.  I  told  him  that  the  kearless  fel- 
lows, who  thought  to  catch  a  practysed  hunter  in  the  woods 
after  dark,  had  thrown  the  lighted  pine  knots  in  the  brush, 
and  that  'twould  kindle  like  tow,  and  warned  him  to  leave 
the  hill.  But  he  was  set  upon  his  business,  and  nothing 
short  of  Providence  could  move  him.  If  he  isn't  burnt  and 
buried  in  a  grave  of  his  own  digging,  he's  made  of  sala- 
manders. Why,  what  ails  the  child!  you  look  as  skeary 
as  if  you  seed'  more  painters!  I  wish  there  were  more  to 
be  found;  they'd  count  up  faster  than  beaver!  But 
where's  the  good  child  of  a  bad  father  ?  did  she  forget  her 
promise  to  the  old  man  V* 

"The  hill!  the  hill!"  shrieked  Louisa;  "she  seeks  you 
on  the  hill  with  the  powder! "  . 

Natty  recoiled  several  feet  at  this  unexpected  intelli- 
gence. 

"The  Lord  of  heaven  have  mercy  on  her!  She's  on  the 
Vision,  and  that's  a  sheet  of  fire  agin  this.  Child,  if  ye 
love  the  dear  one,  and  hope  to  find  a  friend  when  ye  need 
it  most,  go  to  the  village,  and  give  the  alarm.  The  men 
are  used  to  fighting  fire,  and  there  may  be  a  chance  left. 
Fly !  I  bid  ye  fly !  nor  stop  even  for  breath." 

The  Leather-Stocking  had  no  sooner  uttered  this  in- 
junction, than  he  disappeared  in  the  bushes,  and  when 
last  seen  by  Louisa,  was  rushing  up  the  mountain,  with  a 
speed  that  none  but  those  who  were  accustomed  to  the  toil 
could  attain. 

"Have  I  found  ye!"  the  old  man  exclaimed,  when  he 
burst  out  of  the  smoke;  "  God  be  praised  that  I've  found 
ye;  but  follow,— there's  no  time  for  talking." 

"My  dress!"  said  Elizabeth;  "it  would  be  fatal  to  trust 
myself  nearer  to  the  flames  in  it." 

"  I  bethought  me  of  your  flimsy  things,"  cried  Natty, 
throwing  loose  the  folds  of  a  covering  of  buckskin  that  he 
carried  on  his  arm,  and  wrapping  her  form  in  it,  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  envelop  her  whole  person;  "now  follow,  for 
it's  a  matter  of  life  and  death  to  us  all." 

"But  John!  what  will  become  of  John?"  cried  ^Ed- 
wards; "  can  we  leave  the  old  warrior  here  to  perish  ?  " 

The  eyes  of  Natty  followed  the  direction  of  Edwards' 
finger,  when  he  beheld  the  Indian,  still  seated  as  before, 
with  the  very  earth  under  his  feet  consuming  with  fire. 
Without  delay  the  hunter  approached  the  spot,  and  spoke 
in  Delaware: — 


THE  PIONEERS. 


3^7 


"Up  and  away,  Chingachgook !  will  ye  stay  here  to 
burn,  like  a  Mingo  at  the  stake  ?  The  Moravians  have 
teached  ye  better,  I  hope;  the  Lord  preserve  me  if  the 
powder  haWt  flashed  atween  his  legs,  and  the  skin  of  his 
back  is  roasting.    Will  ye  come,  I  say;  will  ye  follow  ?" 

"  Why  should  Mohegan  go  ? "  returned  the  Indian 
gloomily.  ?  He  has  seen  the  days  of  an  -eagle,  and  his  eye 
grows  dim.  He  looks  on  the  valley;  he  looks  on  the  water; 
he  looks  in  the  hunting-grounds;  but  he  sees  no  Dela- 
wares.  Every  one  has  a  white  skin.  My  fathers  say,  from 
the  far  off  land,  Come.  My  women,  my  young  warriors, 
my  tribe,  say,  Come.  The  great  Spirit  says,  Come.  Let 
Mohegan  die/' 

"  But  you  forget  your  friend,"  cried  Edwards. 

%  'Tis  useless  to  talk  to  an  Indian  with  the  death-fit  0 
him,  lad,"  interrupted  Natty,  who  seized  the  strips  of  the 
blanket,  and  vith  wonderful  dexterity  strapped  the  pas 
sive  chieftain  to  his  own  back;  when  he  turned,  and 
with  a  strength  that  seemed  to  bid  defiance,  not  only  to 
his  years,  but  to  his  load,  he  led  the  way  to  the  point 
whence  he  had  issued.  As  they  crossed  the  little  terrace 
of  rock,  one  of  the  dead  trees,  that  had  been  tottering  for 
several  minutes,  fell  on  the  spot  where  they  had  stood,  and 
filled  the  air  with  its  cinders. 

Such  an  event  quickened  the  steps  of  the  party,  who 
.  followed  the  Leather-Stocking  with  the  urgency  required 
by  the  03casion. 

"Tre.id  on  the  soft  ground,"  he  cried,  when  they  were 
in  a  gloom  where  sight  availed  them  but  little,  "  and  keep 
in  the  white  smoke;  keep  the  skin  close  on  her,  lad;  she's 
a  precious  one,  another  will  be  hard  to  be  found." 

Obedient  to  the  hunter's  directions,  they  followed  his 
steps  and  advice  implicitly;  and  although  the  narrow 
passage  along  the  winding  of  the  spring  led  amid  burning 
logs  and  falling  branches,  they  happily  achieved  it  in 
safety.  No  one  but  a  man  long  accustomed  to  the  woods 
could  have  traced  his  route  through  a  smoke,  in  which 
respiration  was  difficult,  and  sight  nearly  useless;  but  the 
experience  of  Natty  conducted  them  to  an  opening  through 
the  rocks,  where,  with  a  little  difficulty,  they  soon  de- 
scended to  another  terrace,  and  emerged  at  once  into  a 
tolerably  clear  atmosphere. 

The  feelings  of  Edwards  and  Elizabeth  at  reaching  this 
spot  may  be  imagined,  though  not  easily  described.  No 


388 


THE  PIONEERS. 


one  seemed  to  exult  more  than  their  guide,  who  turned, 
with  Mohegan  still  lashed  to  his  back,  and  laughing  in  his 
own  manner,  said, — 

"  I  knowed  'twas  the  Frenchman's  powder,  gal ;  it  went 
so  all  together;  your  coarse  grain  will  squib  for  a  minute. 
The  Iroquois  had  none  of  the  best  powder  when  I  went 
agin  the  Canada  .tribes,  under  Sir  William.  Did  I  ever 
tell  you  the  story,  lad,  consarning  the  scrimmage 
with  "— 

"  For  God's  sake,  tell  me  nothing  now,  Natty,  until  we 
are  entirely  safe.    Where  shall  we  go  next  ?  " 

"  Why,  on  the  platform  of  rock  over  the  cave,  to  be  sure ; 
you  will  be  safe  enough  there,  or  we'll  go  into  it,  if  you  be 
so  minded." 

The  young  man  started,  and  appeared  agitated;  but 
looking  around  him  with  an  anxious  eye,  said  quickly, — 

"  Shall  we  be  safe  on  the  rock  ?  cannot  the  fire  reach  us 
there,  too  ?  " 

"  Can't  the  boy  see  ?  "  said  Natty,  with  the  coolness  of 
one  accustomed  to  the  kind  of  danger  he  had  just  encoun- 
tered. "Had  ye  stayed  in  the  place  above  ten  minutes 
longer,  you  would  have  both  been  in  ashes,  but  here  you 
may  stay  forever,  and  no  fire  can  touch  you,  until  they 
burn  the  rocks  as  well  as  the  woods." 

WTith  this  assurance,  which  was  obviously  true,  they 
proceeded  to  the  spot,  and  Natty  deposited  his  load,  plac- 
ing the  Indian  on  the  ground  with  his  back  against  a  frag- 
ment of  the  rocks.  Elizabeth  sank  on  the  ground,  and 
buried  her  face  in  her  hands,  while  her  heart  was  swelling 
with  a  variety  of  conflicting  emotions. 

"  Let  me  urge  you  to  take  a  restorative,  Miss  Temple," 
said  Edwards  respectfully;  u  your  frame  will  sink  else." 

"Leave  me,  leave  me,"  she  said,  raising  her  beaming 
eyes  for  a  moment  to  his ;  "  I  feel  too  much  for  words !  I 
am  grateful,  Oliver,  for  this  miraculous  escape;  and  next 
to  my  God  to  you." 

Edwards  withdrew  to  the  edge  of  the  rock,  and  shouted, 
"  Benjamin !  where  are  you,  Benjamin  ?  " 

A  hoarse  voice  replied,  as  if  from  the  bowels  of  the 
earth,  " Here-a way,  master;  stowed  in  this  here  bit  of  a 
hole,  which  is  all  the  same  as  hot  as  the  cook's  coppers. 
I'm  tired  of  my  berth,  d'ye  see,  and  if-so-be  that  Leather- 
Stocking  has  got  much  over-hauling  to  do  before  he  sails 
after  them  said  beaver,  I'll  go  into  dock  again,  and  ride 


THE  PIONEERS. 


389 


out  my  quarantine  till  I  can  get  prottick  from  the  law, 
and  so  hold  on  upon  the  rest  of  my  'Spaniolas." 

"  Bring  up  a  glass  of  water  from  the  spring,"  continued 
Edwards,  "  and  throw  a  little  wine  in  it ;  hasten,  I  entreat 
you!" 

"  I  knows  but  little  of  your  small  drink,  Master  Oliver," 
returned  the  steward,  his  voice  issuing  out  of  the  cave 
into  the  open  air,  "  and  the  Jamaiky  held  out  no  longer 
than  to  take  a  parting  kiss  with  Billy  Kirby,  when  he  an- 
chored me  alongside  the  highway  last  night,  where  you 
run  me  down  in  the  chase.  But  here's  sum'mat  of  a  red 
color  that  may  suit  a  weak  stomach,  mayhap.  That  Master 
Kirby  is  no  first-rate  in  a  boat;  but  he'll  tack  a  cart  among 
the  stumps,  all  the  same  as  a  London  pilot  will  back  and 
fill  through  the  colliers  in  the  Pool." 

As  the  steward  ascended  while  talking,  by  the  time  he 
had  ended  his  speech,  he  appeared  on  the  rock  with  the 
desired  restoratives,  exhibiting  the  worn-out  and  bloated 
features  of  a  man  who  had  run  deep  in  a  debauch,  and 
that  lately. 

Elizabeth  took  from  the  hands  of  Edwards  the  liquor  • 
which  he  offered,  and  then  motioned  to  be  left  again  to 
herself. 

t  The  youth  turned  at  her  bidding,  and  observed  Natty 
kindly  assiduous  around  the  person  of  Mohegan.  When 
their  eyes  met,  the  hunter  said  sorrowfully, — 

"His  time  has  come,  lad;  I  see  it  in  his  eyes;  when  an 
Indian  fixes  his  eye,  he  means  to  go  but  to  one  place;  and 
what  the  willful  creaturs  put  their  minds  on,  thev're  sure 
to  do/'  J 

A  quick  tread  prevented  the  reply,  and  in  a  few  mo- 
ments, to  the  amazement  of  the  whole  party,  Mr.  Grant  was  \ 
seen  clinging  to  the  side  of  the  mountain,  and  striving  to 
reach  the  place  where  they  stood.  Oliver  sprang  to  his 
assistance,  and  by  their  united  efforts  the  worthy  divine 
was  soon  placed  safely  among  them. 

"  How  came  you  added  to  our  number  ?"  cried  Edwards. 
"  Is  the  hill  alive  with  people  at  a  time  like  this  ?  " 

The  hasty  but  pious  thanksgivings  of  the  clergyman 
were  soon  ejaculated;  and  when  he  succeeded  in  collect- 
ing his  bewildered  senses,  he  replied, — 

"  I  heard  that  my  child  was  seen  coming  to  the  moun- 
tain ;  and  when  the  fire  broke  over  its  summit,  my  uneasi- 
ness drew  me  up  the  road,  where  I  found  Louisa,  in  terror 


39° 


THE  PIONEERS. 


for  Miss  Temple.  It  was  to  seek  her  that  I  came  into  this 
dangerous  place;  and  I  think,  but  for  God's  mercy,  through 
the  dogs  of  Natty,  I  should  have  perished  in  the  flames 
myself." 

"Aye !  follow  the  hounds,  and  if  there's  an  opening  they'll 
scent  it  out,"  said  Natty ;  "  their  noses  be  given  them  the 
same  as  man's  reason." 

"I  did  so,  and  they  led  me  to  this  place;  but,  praise  be 
to  God,  that  I  see  you  all  safe  and  well." 

"  No,  no,"  returned  the  hunter;  "safe  we  be,  but  as  for 
well,  John  can't  be  called  in  a  good  way,  unless  you'll  say 
that  for  a  man  that's  taking  his  last  look  at  'arth." 

"He  speaks  the  truth!"  said  the  divine,  with  the  holy 
awe  with  which  he  ever  approached  the  dying;  "I  have 
been  by  too  many  death-beds,  not  to  see  that  the  hand  of 
the  tyrant  is  laid  on  this  old  warrior.  0 !  how  consoling  it 
is  to  know  that  he  has  not  rejected  the  offered  mercy  in 
the  hour  of  his  strength  and  of  worldly  temptations!  The 
offspring  of  a  race  of  heathens,  he  has  in  trut  hbeen  f  as  a 
brand  plucked  from  the  burning.' " 

"  No,  no,"  returned  Natty,  who  alone  stood  with  him  by 
the  side  of  the  dying  warrior,  "  it's  no  burning  that  ails 
him,  though  his  Indian  feelings  made  him  scorn  to  move, 
unless  it  be  the  burning  of  man's  wicked  thoughts  for  near 
four-score  years ;  but  it's  natur'  giving  out  in  a  chase  that's 
run  too  long.  Down  with  ye,  Hector!  down,  I  say!  Flesh 
isn't  iron,  that  a  man  can  live  forever,  and  see  his  kith  and 
kin  driven  to  a  far  country,  and  he  left  to  mourn,  with 
none  to  keep  him  company." 

"  John,"  said  the  divine,  tenderly,  "  do  you  hear  me  ?  do 
you  wish  the  prayers  appointed  by  the  Church,  at  this  try- 
ing moment  ?  " 

The  Indian  turned  his  ghastly  face  towards  the  speaker, 
and  fastened  his  dark  eyes  on  him,  steadily,  but  vacantly. 
No  sign  of  recognition  was  made;  and  in  a  moment  he 
moved  his  head  again  slowly  towards  the  vale,  and  began 
to  sing,  using  his  own  language,  in  those  low,  guttural 
tones,  that  have  been  so  often  mentioned,  his  notes  rising 
with  his  theme,  till  they  swelled  so  loud  as  to  be  distinct. 

"  I  will  come!  I  will  come!  to  the  land  of  the  just  I  will 
come!  The  Maquas  I  have  slain!  I  have  slain  the  Maquas! 
and  the  Great  Spirit  calls  to  his  son.  I  will  come!  I  will 
come!  to  the  land  of  the  just  I  will  come! " 

"  What  says  he,  Leather-Stocking  ?  "  inquired  the  priest, 
with  tenderinterest;  "  sings  he  the  Redeemer's  praise  ?" 


THE  PIONEERS. 


39' 


"  No,  no ;  'tis  „.s  own  praise  that  he  speaks  now,"  said 
Natty,  turning  in  a  melancholy  manner  from  the  sight  of 
his  dying  friend ;  "  and  a  good  right  he  has  to  say  it  all,  for 
I  know  every  word  to  be  true." 

"May  Heaven  avert  such  self-righteousness  from  his 
heart!  Humility  and  penitence  are  the  seals  of  Christian- 
ity; and  without  feeling  them  deeply  seated  in  the  soul, 
all  hope  is  delusive,  and  leads  to  vain  expectations.  Praise 
himself!  when  his  whole  soul  and  body  should  unite  to 
praise  his  Maker!  John!  you  have  enjoyed  the  blessings 
of  a  gospel  ministry,  and  have  been  called  from  out  a  mul- 
titude of  sinners  and  pagans,  and  I  trust,  for  a  wise  and 
gracious  purpose.  Do  you  now  feel  what  it  is  to  be  justi- 
fied by  our  Saviour's  death,  and  reject  all  weak  and  idle 
dependence  on  good  works,  that  spring  from  man's  pride 
and  vain -glory  ?  " 

The  Indian  did  not  regard  his  interrogator,  but  he  raised 
his  head  again,  and  said  in  a  low,  distinct  voice,— 

"  Who  can  say  that  the  Maquas  know  the  back  of  Mohe- 
gan  ?  What  enemy  that  trusted  in  him  did  not  see  the 
morning  ?  What  Mingo  that  he  chased  ever  sang  the  song 
of  triumph  ?  Did  Mohegan  ever  lie  ?  No ;  the  truth  lived 
in  him,  and  none  else  could  come  out  of  him.  In  his 
youth  he  was  a  warrior,  and  his  mocassins  left  the  stain  of 
blood.  In  his  age,  he  was  wise;  his  words  at  the  council 
fire  did  not  blow  away  with  the  winds." 

"Ah !  he  has  abandoned  that  vain  relic  of  paganism,  his 
songs,"  cried  the  divine;  "what  says  he  now  ?  is  he  sensible 
of  his  lost  state  ?  " 

"  Lord !  man,"  said  Natty,  "  he  knows  his  end  is  at  hand 
as  well  as  you  or  I ;  but,  so  far  from  thinking  it  a  loss,  he 
believes  it  to  be  a  great  gain.  He  is  old  and  stiff,  and  you 
have  made  the  game  so  scarce  and  shy,  that  better  shots 
than  him  find  it  hard  to  get  a  livelihood.  Now  he  thinks 
he  shall  travel  where  it  will  always  be  good  hunting; 
where  no  wicked  or  unjust  Indians  can  go;  and  where  he 
shall  meet  all  his  tribe  together  ag'in.  There's  not  much 
loss  in  that,  to  a  man  whose  hands  are  hardly  fit  for  basket- 
making.  Loss !  if  there  be  any  loss,  'twill  be  to  me.  I'm 
sure,  after  he's  gone,  there  will  be  but  little  left  for  me 
but  to  follow." 

"  His  example  and  end,  which,  I  humbly  trust,  snail  yet 
be  made  glorious,"  returned  Mr.  Grant,  "should  lead  your 
mind  to  dwell  on  the  things  of  another  life.    But  I  feel  it 


592  THE  PIONEERS. 

to  be  my  duty  to  smooth  the  way  for  the  parting  spirit. 
This  is  the  moment,  John,  when  the  reflection  that  you 
did  not  reject  the  mediation  of  the  Redeemer,  will  bring 
balm  to  your  soul.  Trust  not  to  any  act  of  former  days, 
but  lay  the  burden  of  your  sins  at  his  feet,  and  you  have 
his  own  blessed  assurance  that  he  will  not  desert  you." 

« Though  all  you  say  be  true,  and  you  have  Scriptur 
gospels  for  it,  too,"  said  Natty,  "you  will  make  nothing  of 
the  Indian.    He  hasn't  seen  a  Moravian  priest  sin  the 
war:  and  it's  hard  to  keep  them  from  going  back  to  their 
native  ways.    I  should  think  'twould  be  as  well  to  let  the 
old  man  pass  in  peace.    He's  happy  now;  I  know  it  by  his 
eyes,  and  that's  more  than  I  would  say  for  the  chiet,  sin 
the  time  the  Delawares  broke  up  from  the  head-waters  of 
their  river,  and  went  west.    Ah's  me!  'tis  a  grievous  long 
time  that,  and  many  dark  days  have  we  seen  together  sm  it. 
^"Hawkeve!"  said  Mohegan,  rousing  with  the  last  glim- 
mering of 'life.    "Hawkeye!  listen  to  the  words  of  your 

brother."  .  .  _  « 

«  Yes,  John,"  said  the  hunter,  m  English,  strongly  af- 
fected by  the  appeal,  and  drawing  to  his  side;  "we  have 
been  brothers;  and  more  so  than  it  means  in  the  Indian 
tongue.  What  would  ye  have  with  me,  Chmgachgook  f 
^"Hawkeye!  my  fathers  call  me  to  the  happy  hunting- 
grounds.  The  path  is  clear,  and  the  eyes  of  Mohegan  grow 
young.  I  look,  but  I  see  no  white  skins;  there  are  none 
to  be  seen  but  just  and  brave  Indians.  Farewell,  Hawk- 
eye  '  you  shall  go  with  the  Fire-eater  and  the  Young  Eagle, 
to  the  white  man's  heaven ;  but  I  go  after  my  fathers.  Let 
the  bow,  the  tomahawk,  and  pipe,  and  the  wampum  of 
Mohegan  be  laid  in  his  grave;  for  when  he  starts  'twill  be 
in  the  night,  like  a  warrior  on  a  war-party,  and  he  cannot 
stop  to  seek  them." 

"  What  says  he,  Nathaniel  ?  "  cried  Mr.  Grant,  earnestly, 
and  with  obvious  anxiety;  "does  he  recall  the  promises  of 
the  mediation?  and  trust  his  salvation  to  the  Rock  ot 

Ages?"  ,  . 

Although  the  faith  of  the  hunter  was  by  no  means  clear, 
yet  the  fruits  of  early  instruction  had  not  entirely  fallen 
in  the  wilderness.  He  believed  in  one  God,  and  one 
heaven,  and  when  the  strong  feeling  excited  by  the  leave- 
taking  of  his  old  companion,  which  was  exhibited  by  the 
powerful  working  of  every  muscle  in  his  weather-beaten 
face,  suffered  him  to  speak,  he  replied,— 


THE  PIONEERS. 


393 


"No — no;  lie  trusts  only  to  the  Great  Spirit  of  the  sav- 
ages, and  to  his  own  good  deeds.    He  thinks,  like  all  his 


happy  to  the  end  of  etarnity.  It's  pretty  much  the  same 
with  all  colors,  parson.  I  could  never  bring  myself  to 
think,  that  I  shall  meet  with  these  hounds,  or  my  piece, 
in  another  world;  though  the  thoughts  of  leaving  them 
for  ever  sometimes  brings  hard  feelings  over  me,  and  makes 
me  cling  to  life  with  a  greater  craving  than  beseems  three- 
score-and-ten." 

"  The  Lord  in  his  mercy  avert  such  a  death  from  one 
who  has  been  sealed  with  the  sign-  of  the  cross ! "  cried  the 
minister,  in  holy  fervor.    "  John  " — 

He  paused  for  the  elements.  During  the  period  occupied 
by  the  events  which  we  have  related,  the  dark  clouds  in 
the  horizon  had  continued  to  increase  in  numbers  and 
magnitude;  and  the  awful  stillness  that  now  pervaded  the 
air,  announced  a  crisis  in  the  state  of  the  atmosphere. 
The  flames,  which  yet  continued  to  rage  along  the  sides  of 
the  mountain,  no  longer  whirled  in  uncertain  currents  of 
their  own  eddies,  but  blazed  high  and  steadily  towards  the 
heavens.  There  was  even  a  quietude  in  the  ravages  of  the 
destructive  elements,  as  if  it  foresaw  that  a  hand,  greater 
than  even  its  own  desolating  power,  was  about  to  stay  its 
progress.  The  piles  of  smoke  which  lay  above  the  valley 
began  to  rise,  and  were  dispelling  rapidly;  and  streaks  of 
vivid  lightning  were  dancing  through  the  masses  of  clouds 
that  impended  over  the  western  hills.  While  Mr.  Grant 
was  speaking,  a  flash,  which  sent  its  quivering  light  through 
the  gloom,  laying  bare  the  whole  opposite  horizon,  was 
followed  by  a  loud  crash  of  thunder,  that  rolled  away 
among  the  hills,  seeming  to  shake  the  foundations  of  the 
earth  to  their  centre.  Mohegan  raised  himself,  as  if  in 
obedience  to  a  signal  for  his  departure,  and  stretched  his 
wasted  arm  towards  the  west.  His  dark  face  lighted  with 
a  look  of  joy;  which,  with  all  other  expression,  gradually 
disappeared ;  the  muscles  stiffening  as  they  retreated  to  a 
state  of  rest;  a  slight  convulsion  played,  for  a  single  in- 
stant, about  his  lips;  and  his  arm  slowly  dropped  by  his 
side;  leaving  the  frame  of  the  dead  warrior  reposing 
against  the  rock,  with  its  glassy  eyes  open,  and  fixed  on  the 
distant  hills,  as  if  the  deserted  shell  were  tracing  the  flight 
of  the  spirit  to  its  new  abode. 

All  this  Mr.  Grant  witnessed  in  silent  awe;  but  when 


young  ag'in,  and  to  hunt,  and  be 


394  THE  PIONEERS. 

the  last  echoes  of  the  thunder  died  away,  he  clasped  his 
hands  together,  with  pious  energy,  and  repeated,  in  the 
full  rich  tones  of  assured  faith,— 

"'OLord!  how  unsearchable  are  thy  judgments:  and 
thy  ways  past  finding  out!'  'I  know  that  my  Redeemer 
liveth,  and  that  He  shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the 
earth:  and  though  after  my  skin,  worms  destroy  this  body, 
yet  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God:  whom  I  shall  see  for  my- 
self, and  mine  eyes  shall  behold,  and  not  another/  " 

As  the  divine  closed  this  burst  of  devotion,  he  bowed 
his  head  meekly  to  his  bosom,  and  looked  all  the  depend- 
ence and  humility  that  the  inspired  language  expressed. 

When  Mr.  Grant  retired  from  the  body,  the  hunter  ap- 
proached, and  taking  the  rigid  hand  of  his  friend,  looked 
him  wistfully  in  the  face  for  some  time  without  speaking, 
when  he  gave  vent  to  his  feeling  by  saying,  in  the  mourn- 
ful voice  of  one  who  felt  deeply,—  .  •  ' 

"  Red  skin  or  white,  it's  all  over  now !  He  s  to  be  nidged 
by  a  righteous  Judge,  and  by  no  laws  that's  made  to  suit 
times,  and  new  ways.  Well,  there's  only  one  more  death, 
and  the  world  will  be  left  to  me  and  the  hounds.  Ah  s 
me*  a  man  must  wait  the  time  of  God's  pleasure,  but  1 
begin  to  weary  of  life.'  There  is  scarcely  a  tree  standing 
that  I  know,  and  it's  hard  to  find  a  place  that  I  was  ac- 
quainted with  in  my  younger  days." 

Lar^e  drops  of  rain  began  now  to  fall,  and  diffuse  them- 
selves over  the  dry  rock,  while  the  approach  of  the  thunder- 
show(rwas  rapid  and  certain.  The  body  of  the  Indian 
was  "lastily  removed  into  the  cave  beneath,  followed  by 
the  whining  hounds,  who  missed  and  moaned  for  the  look 
of  intelligence  that  had  always  met  their  salutations  to  the 

^Edwards  made  some  hasty  and  confused  excuse  for  not 
taking  Elizabeth  into  the  same  place,  which  was  now  com- 
pletely closed  in  front  with  logs  and  bark,  saying  some- 
thing that  she  hardly  understood  about  its  darkness  and 
the  unpleasantness  of  being  with  the  dead  body.  Miss 
Temple,  however,  found  a  sufficient  shelter  against  the 
torrent  of  rain  that  fell,  under  the  projection  of  a  rock 
which  overhung  them.  But  long  before  the  shower  was 
over,  the  sounds  of  voices  were  heard  below  them  crying 
aloud  for  Elizabeth,  and  men  soon  appeared,  beating  the 
dying  embers  of  the  bushes,  as  they  worked  their  way  cau- 
tiously among  the  unextinguished  brands. 


THF  PIONEERS. 


395 


At  the  first  short  cessation  in  the  rain,  Oliver  conducted 
Elizabeth  to  the  road,  where  he  left  her.  Before  parting, 
however,  he  found  time  to  say,  in  a  fervent  manner,  that 
his  companion  was  now  at  no  loss  to  interpret: — 

"The  moment  of  concealment  is  over,  Miss  Temple.  By 
this  time  to-morrow,  I  shaH  remove  a  veil  that  perhaps  it 
has  been  weakness  to  keep  around  me  and  my  affairs  so 
long.  But  I  have  had  romantic  and  foolish  wishes  and 
weaknesses :  and  who  has  not,  that  is  young  and  torn  by 
conflicting  passions !  God  bless  you!  I  hear  your  father's 
voice;  he  is  coming  up  the  road,  and  I  would  not,  just 
now,  subject  myself  to  detention.  Thank  Heaven,  you  are 
safe  again ;  that  alone  removes  the  weight  of  a  world  from 
my  spirit ! " 

He  waited  for  no  answer,  hut  sprang  into  the  woods. 
Elizabeth,  notwithstanding  sb?  heard  the  cries  of  her  father 
as  he  called  upon  her  name,  paused  until  he  was  concealed 
among  the  smoking  trees,  when  she  turned,  and  in  a  mo- 
ment rushed  into  the  arms  of  her  half-distracted  parent. 

A  carriage  had  been  provided,  into  which  Miss  Temple 
hastily  entered ;  when  the  cry  was  passed  along  the  hill, 
that  the  lost  one  was  found,  and  the  people  returned  to 
the  village,  wet  and  dirty,  but  elated  with  the  thought  that 
the  daughter  of  their  landlord  h?d  escaped  from  so  horrid 
and  untimely  an  end.1 


CHAPTEK  X1UX. 

Selictar!  unsheathe  then  our  chief's  scimitar  ; 

Tambourgi !  thy  'larum  gives  promise  of  war  ; 

Ye  mountains !  that  see  us  descend  to  the  shore, 

Shall  view  us  as  victors,  or  view  us  n*i  more.  Btron. 

The  heavy  showers  that  prevailed  during  the  remainder 
of  the  day  completely  stopped  the  progress  of  the  flames, 
though  glimmering  fires  were  observed  during  the  night, 

1  The  probability  of  a  fire  in  the  woods,  similar  to  that  here  described,  has 
been  questioned.  The  writer  can  only  say  that  he  once  witnessed  a  fire  in 
another  part  of  New  York  that  compelled  a  man  to  desert  his  wagon  and  horses 
in  the  highway,  and  in  which  the  latter  were  destroyed.  Jn  order  to  estimate 
the  probability  of  such  an  event,  it  is  necessary  to  remember  the  effects  of  a 
long  drought  in  that  climate,  and  the  abundance  of  dead  wood  which  is  found 
in  a  forest  like  that  described.  The  fires  in  the  American  forests  frequently 
rage  to  such  an  extent  as  to  produce  a  sensible  effect  on  the  1  tmosphere  at  the 
distance  of  fifty  miles.  Houses,  barns,  and  fences  are  quit"  <jomraor>*y  swept 
away  in  their  course. 


396 


THE  PIONEERS. 


on  different  parts  of  the  hill,  wherever  there  was  a  collec- 
tion of  fuel  to  feed  the  element.  The  next  day  the  woods, 
for  many  miles,  were  black  and  smoking,  and  were  stripped 
of  every  vestige  of  brush  and  dead  wood;  but  the  pines 
and  hemlocks  still  reared  their  heads  proudly  among  the 
hills,  and  even  the  smaller  trees  of  the  forest  retained  a 
feeble  appearance  of  life  and  vegetation. 

The  many  tongues  of  rumor  were  busy  in  exaggerating 
the  miraculous  escape  of  Elizabeth  ;  and  a  report  was  gen- 
erally credited,  that  Mohegan  had  actually  perished  in  the 
flames.  This  belief  became  confirmed,  and  was  indeed 
rendered  probable,  when  the  direful  intelligence  reached 
the  village,  that  Jotham  Eiddel,  the  miner,  was  found  in 
his  hole,  nearly  dead  with  suffocation,  and  burnt  to  such 
a  degree  that  no  hopes  were  entertained  of  his  life. 

The  public  attention  became  much  alive  to  the  events 
-of  the  last  few  days ;  and  just  at  this  crisis,  the  convicted 
counterfeiters  took  the  hint  from  Natty,  and,  on  the  night 
succeeding  the  fire,  found  means  to  cut  through  their  log 
prison  also,  and  to  escape  unpunished.  When  this  news 
began  to  circulate  through  the  village,  blended  with  the 
fate  of  Jotham,  and  the  exaggerated  and  tortured  reports 
of  the  events  on  the  hill,  the  popular  opinion  was  freely 
expressed,  as  to  the  propriety  of  seizing  such  of  the  fugi- 
tives as  remained  within  reach.  Men  talked  of  the  cave, 
as  a  secret  receptacle  of  guilt;  and  as  the  rumor  of  ores 
-and  metals  found  its  way  into  the  confused  medley  of  con- 
jectures, counterfeiting,  and  everything  else  that  was  wicked 
and  dangerous  to  the  peace  of  society,  suggested  themselves 
to  the  busy  fancies  of  the  populace. 

While  the  public  mind  was  in  this  feverish  state,  it  was 
hinted  that  the  wood  had  been  set  on  fire  by  Edwards  and 
the  Leather-Stocking,  and  that,  consequently,  they  alone 
were  responsible  for  the  damages.  This  opinion  soon 
gained  ground,  being  most  circulated  by  those  who,  by 
their  own  heedlessness,  had  caused  the  evil ;  and  there  was 
one  irresistible  burst  of  the  common  sentiment,  that  an 
attempt  should  be  made  to  punish  the  offenders.  Richard 
was  by  no  means  deaf  to  this  appeal,  and  by  noon  he  set 
about  in  earnest,  to  see  the  laws  executed. 

Several  stout  young  men  were  selected,  and  taken  apart 
with  an  appearance  of  secrecy,  where  they  received  some 
important  charge  from  the  Sheriff,  immediately  under  the 
eyes,  but  far  removed  from  the  ears,  of  all  in  the  village. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


397 


Possessed  of  a  knowledge  of  their  duty,  these  youths  hur- 
ried into  the  hills,  with  a  bustling  manner,  us  if  the  fate 
of  the  world  depended  on  their  diligence,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  with  an  air  of  mystery,  as  great  as  if  they  were  en- 
gaged on  secret  matters  of  the  State. 

At  twelve  precisely,  a  drum  beat  the  "  long  roll "  before 
the  "  Bold  Dragoon,"  and  Richard  appeared,  accompanied 
by  Captain  Hollister,  who  was  clad  in  his  vestments  as 
commander  of  the  "  Templeton  Light  Infantry,"  when  the 
former  demanded  of  the  latter  the  aid  of  the  posse  comi- 
tatus,  in  enforcing  the  laws  of  the  country.  We  have  not 
room  to  record  the  speeches  of  the  two  gentlemen  on  this 
occasion,  but  they  are  preserved  in  the  columns  of  the 
little  blue  newspaper,  which  is  yet  to  be  found  on  file,  and 
are  said  to  be  highly  creditable  to  the  legal  formula  of  one 
of  the  parties,  and  to  the  military  precision  of  the  other. 
Everything  had  been  previously  arranged,  and  as  the  red- 
coated  drummer  continued  to  roll  out  his  clattering  notes, 
some  five-and-twenty  privates  appeared  in  the  ranks,  and 
arranged  themselves  in  order  of  battle. 

As  this  corps  was  composed  of  volunteers,  and  was  com- 
manded by  a  man  who  had  passed  the  first  five-and-thirty 
years  of  his  life  in  camps  and  garrisons,  it  was  the  non- 
pareil of  military  science  in  that  country,  and  was  confi- 
dently pronounced  by  the  judicious  part  of  the  Templeton 
community,  to  be  equal  in  skill  and  appearance  to  any 
troops  in  the  known  world;  in  physical  endowments  they 
were,  certainly,  much  superior!  To  this  assertion  there 
were  but  three  dissenting  voices,  and  one  dissenting 
opinion.  The  opinion  belonged  to  Marmaduke,  who,  how- 
ever, saw  no  necessity  for  its  promulgation.  Of  the  voices, 
one,  and  that  a  pretty  loud  one,  came  from  the  spouse  of 
the  commander  himself,  who  frequently  reproached  her 
husband  for  condescending  to  lead  such  an  irregular  band 
of  warriors,  after  he  had  filled  the  honorable  station  of 
sergeant-major  to  a  dashing  corps  of  Virginian  cavalry 
through  much  of  the  recent  war. 

Another  of  these  skeptical  sentiments  was  invariably 
expressed  by  Mr.  Pump,  whenever  the  company  paraded, 
generally  in  some  such  terms  as  these,  which  were  uttered 
with  that  sort  of  meekness  that  a  native  of  the  island  of 
our  forefathers  is  apt  to  assume,  when  he  condescends  to 
praise  the  customs  or  character  of  her  truant  progeny  :— 
"  It's  mayhap  that  they  knows  sum'mat  about  loading 


39« 


THE  PIONEERS. 


and  firing,  d'ye  see;  but  as  for  working  ship!  why  a  cor. 
poraPs  guard  of  the  Boaclishey's  marines  would  back  and 
fill  on  their  quarters  in  such  a  manner  as  to  surround  and 
captivate  them  all  in  half  a  glass."  As  there  was  no  one 
to  deny  this  assertion,  the  marines  of  the  Boadicea  were 
held  in  a  corresponding  degree  of  estimation. 

The  third  unbeliever  was  Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  who  merely 
whispered  to  the  Sheriff,  that  the  corps  was  one  of  the 
finest  he  had  ever  seen,  second  only  to  the  Mousquetaires 
of  Le  Bon  Louis!  However,  as  Mrs.  Hollister  thought 
there  was  something  like  actual  service  in  the  present  ap- 
pearances, and  was,  in  consequence,  too  busily  engaged 
with  certain  preparations  of  her  own,  to  make  her  com- 
ments; as  Benjamin  was  absent,  and  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  too 
happy  to  find  fault  with  anything,  the  corps  escaped  criti- 
cism and  comparison  altogether  on  this  momentous  day, 
when  they  certainly  had  greater  need  of  self-confidence 
than  on  any  other  previous  occasion.  Marmaduke  was  said 
to  be  again  closeted  with  Mr.  Van  der  School,  and  no  in- 
terruption was  offered  to  the  movements  of  the  troops.  At 
two  o'clock  precisely  the  corps  shouldered  arms,  beginning 
on  the  right  wing,  next  to  the  veteran,  and  carrying  the 
motion  through  to  the  left  with  great  regularity.  When 
each  musket  was  quietly  fixed  in  its  proper  situation,  the 
order  was  given  to  wheel  to  the  left,  and  march.  As  this 
was  bringing  raw  troops,  at  once,  to  face  their  enemy,  it  is 
not  to  be  supposed  that  the  manoeuvre  was  executed  with 
their  usual  accuracy;  but  as  the  music  struck  up  the  in- 
spiring air  of  Yankee  Doodle,  and  Richard,  accompanied 
by  Mr.  Doolittle,  preceded  the  troops  boldly  down  the 
street,  Captain  Hollister  led  on,  with  his  head  elevated  to 
forty-five  degrees,  with  a  little,  low,  cocked  hat  perched  on 
his  crown,  carrying  a  tremendous  dragoon  sabre  at  a  poise, 
*nd  trailing  at  his  heels  a  huge  steel  scabbard,  that  had 
war  in  its  very  clattering.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  diffi- 
culty in  getting  all  the  platoons  (there  were  six)  to  look  the 
name  way;  but,  by  the  time  they  reached  the  defile  of  the 
bridge,  the  troops  were  in  sufficiently  compact  order.  In 
this  manner  they  marched  up  the  hill  to  the  summit  or. 
the  mountain,  no  other  alteration  taking  place  in  the  dis- 
position of  the  forces  excepting  that  a  mutual  complaint 
way  made  by  the  Sheriff  and  the  magistrate,  of  a  failure  in 
winl,  which  gradually  brought  these  gentlemen  to  the 
rear    It  will  be  unnecessary  to  detail  the  minute  move- 


THE  PIONEERS.  399 

ments  that  succeeded.  We  shall  briefly  say  that  i the  scouts 
came  in  and  reported,  that,  so  far  from  retreat  ng  as  ad 
been  anticipated,  the  fugitives  had  evidently  gained  a 
knowledge  of  the  attack,  and  were  fortifying  for  a  desper- 
ate resistance.  This  intelligence  certainly  made  a  material 
change,  not  only  in  the  plans  of  the  leaders,  but  m  the 
countenances  of  the  soldiery  also.  The  men  looked  at  one 
another  with  serious  faces,  and  Hiram  and  Richard  began 
to  consult  together,  apart. 

At  this  conjuncture,  they  were  mined  by  Billy  Kirby,  who 
came  along  the  highway,  with  his  axe  under  his  arm,  as 
mimh  in  advance  of  his  team  as  Captain  Holhster  had  been 
of  his  troops  in  the  ascent.  The  wood-chopper  was  amazed 
at  the  military  array,  but  the  Sheriff  eagerly  availed  him- 
self of  this  powerful  reinforcement,  and  commanded  his 
assistance  in  putting  the  laws  in  force.    Billy  held ^Mr 
Jones  in  too  much  deference  to  object;  and  it  was  finally 
arranged  that  he  should  be  the  bearer  of  a  summons  to  the 
garrison  to  surrender,  before  they  proceeded  to  extremities. 
The  troops  now  divided,  one  party  being  led  by  the  Cap- 
tain, over  the  Vision,  and  were  brought  m  on  the  lett  oi 
the  cave,  while  the  remainder  advanced  upon  its  right, 
under  the  orders  of  the  lieutenant.    Mr  Jones  and  Dr. 
Todd— for  the  surgeon  was  in  attendance  also -appeared  on 
the  platform  of  rock,  immediately  over  the  heads  of  the 
garrison,  though  out  of  their  sight.    Hiram  thought  this 
Approaching  too  near,  and  he  therefore  accompanied  Kirby 
along  the  side  of  the  hill,  to  within  a  safe  distance  ot  the 
fortifications,  where  he  took  shelter  behind  a  tree.  >  Most 
of  the  men  discovered  great  accuracy  of  eye  m  bringing 
some  object  in  range  between  them  and  their  enemy,  and 
the  only  two  of  the  beseigers,  who  were  left  m  plain  signt 
of  the  beseiged,  were  Captain  Hollister  on  one  side,  and 
the  wood-chopper  on  the  other.    The  veteran  stood  up 
boldly  to  the  front,  supporting  his  heavy  sword,  m  one 
undenting  position,  with  his  eye  fixed  firmly  on  his  enemy 
while  the  huge  form  of  Billy  was  placed  m  that  kind  of 
quiet  repose,  with  either  hand  thrust  into  his i  bosom ,  bear- 
ino-  his  axe  under  his  right  arm,  which  permitted  him,  like 
his  own  oxen,  to  rest  standing.    So  far,  not  a  word  had 
been  exchanged  between  the  belligerents.    The  beseiged 
had  drawn  together  a  pile  of  black  logs  and  branches  of 
trees,  which  they  had  formed  into  a  chevaux-de-f rise,  mak- 
ing a  little  circular  abbatis  in  front  of  the  entrance  to  the 


4oo 


THE  PIONEERS. 


cave.  As  the  ground  was  steep  and  slippery  in  every  di- 
rection around  the  place,  and  Benjamin  appeared  behind 
the  works  on  one  side,  and  Natty  on  the  other,  the  ar- 
rangement was  by  no  means  contemptible,  especially  as  the 
front  was  sufficiently  guarded  by  the  difficulty  of  'the  ap- 
proach. By  this  time  Kirby  had  received  his  orders,  and 
he  advanced  coolly  along  the  mountain,  picking  his  way 
with  the  same  indifference  as  if  he  were  pursuing  his  ordi- 
nary business.  When  he  was  within  a  hundred  feet  of 
the  works,  the  long  and  much  dreaded  rifle  of  the  Leather- 
Stocking  was  seen  issuing  from  the  narapet,  and  his  voice 
cried  aloud. — 

"Keep  off!  Billy  Kirby,  keep  off!  *  wish  ye  no  harm; 
but  if  a  man  of  ye  all  comes  a  step  nigher,  there'll  be  blood 
spilt  atwixt  us.  God  forgive  the  one  that  draws  it  first, 
but  so  it  must  be." 

"  Come,  old  chap,"  said  Billy,  good-naturedly,  "  don't  be 
crabbed,  but  hear  what  a  man  has  got  to  say.  I've  no 
consarn  in  the  business,  only  to  see  right  'twixt  man  and 
man;  and  I  don't  kear  the  valie  of  a  beetle-ring  which 
gets  the  better;  but  there's  Squire  Doolittle,  yonder  behind 
the  beech  sapling,  he  has  invited  me  to  come  in  and  ask 
you  to  give  up  to  the  law — that's  all." 

"  I  see  the  varmint !  I  see  his  clothes ! "  cried  the  indig- 
nant Natty;  "and  if  he'll  only  show  so  much  flesh  as  will 
bury  a  rifle  bullet,  thirty  to  the  pound,  I'll  make  him  feel 
me.  Go  away,  Billy,  I  bid  ye ;  you  know  my  aim,  and  I 
bear  you  no  malice." 

"You  over-calculate  your  aim,  Natty,"  said  the  other,  as 
he  stepped  behind  a  pine  that  stood  near  him ;  "  if  you 
think  to  shoot  a  man  through  a  tree  with  a  three  foot  butt. 
I  can  lay  this  tree  right  across  you  in  ten  minutes,  by  any 
man's  watch,  and  in  less  time,  too ;  so  be  civil — I  want  no 
more  than  what's  right." 

There  was  a  simple  seriousness  in  the  countenance  of 
Natty,  that  showed  he  was  much  in  earnest;  but  it  was 
also  evident  that  he  was  reluctant  to  shed  human  blood. 
He  answered  the  taunt  of  the  wood -chopper,  by  saying, — 

"  I  know  you  drop  a  tree  where  you  will,  Billy  Kirby, 
but  if  you  show  a  hand,  or  an  arm,  in  doing  it,  there'll  be 
bones  to  be  set,  and  blood  to  staunch.  If  it's  only  to  get 
into  the  cave  that  ye  want,  wait  till  a  two  hours'  sun,  and 
you  may  enter  it  in  welcome;  but  come  in  now  you  shall 
not.    There's  one  dead  body  already,  lying  on  the  cold 


THE  PIONEERS.  4°i 

rocks,  and  there's  another  in  which  the  life  can  hardly  be 
said  to  stay.  If  you  will  come  in,  there'll  be  dead  without 
as  well  as  within."  •    _    _    ,  » 

The  wood-chopper  stepped  out  fearlessly  from  his  cover 

and  cried, —  ,    ,    '     __         ,  . 

"  That's  fair;  and  what's  fair  is  right.  He  wants  you  to 
stop  till  it's  two  hours  to  sundown;  and  I  see  reason  m  the 
thing.  A  man  can  give  up  when  he's  wrong,  if  you  d  on  t 
crowd  him  too  hard;  but  you  crowd  a  man,  and  he  gets  to 
be  like  a  stubborn  ox— the  more  you  beat,  the  worse  he 
kicks  " 

The  sturdy  notions  of  independence  maintained  by  Billy 
neither  suited  the  emergency  nor  the  impatience  of  Mr. 
Jones,  who  was  burning  with  a  desire  to  examine  the  hid- 
den mysteries  of  the  cave.  He  therefore  interrupted  this 
amicable  dialogue  with  his  own  voice. 

"I  command  you,  Nathaniel  Bumppo,  by  my  authority, 
to  surrender  your  person  to  the  law,"  he  cried.  And  1 
command  you,  gentlemen,  to  aid  me  in  performing  my 
duty.  Benjamin  Penguillan,  I  arrest  you,  and  order  you 
to  follow  me  to  the  jail  of  the  county,  by  virtue  of  this 

warrant."  . ,  _ 

"I'd  follow  ye,  Squire  Dickens,"  said  Benjamin,  remov- 
ing the  pipe  from  his  mouth  (for  during  the  whole  scene 
the  ex-major-domo  had  been  very  composedly  smoking), 
"aye'  I'd  sail  in  your  wake,  to  the  end  of  the  world,  11-so- 
be  that  there  was  such  a  place,  which  there  isn't,  seeing 
that  it's  round.  Now,  mayhap,  Master  Hollister  having 
lived  all  your  life  on  shore,  you  isn't  acquainted  that  the 
world,  d'ye  see  "—  ,  .  , ,  , 

"Surrender!"  interrupted  the  veteran,  m  a  voice  that 
startled  his  hearers,  and  which  actually  caused  his  own 
forces  to  recoil  several  paces ;  "  surrender,  Benjamin  Pen- 
gullum,  or  expect  no  quarter."  i  ]      >  . 

"Damn  your  quarter!"  said  Benjamin,  rising  from  the 
log  on  which  he  was  seated,  and  taking  a  squint  along  the 
barrel  of  the  swivel,  which  had  been  brought  on  the  hill 
during  the  night,  and  now  formed  the  means  of  defense 
on  his  side  of  the  works.  "  Look  you,  Master,  or  Captain, 
tho'f  I  questions  if  ye  know  the  name  of  a  rope,  except 
the  one  that's  to  hang  ye,  there's  no  need  of  singing  out, 
as  if  ye  was  hailing  a  deaf  man  on  a  topgallant  yard. 
Mayhap  you  think  you've  got  my  true  name  in  your 
sheepskin  ;  but  what  British  sailor  finds  it  worth  while  to 


402 


THE  PIONEERS. 


sail  in  these  seas,  without  a  sham  on  his  stern,  in  case  of 
need,  d'ye  see.  If  you  call  me  Penguillan,  you  calls  me  by 
the  name  of  the  man  on  whose  land,  d'ye  see,  I  hove  into 
daylight;  and  he  was  a  gentleman ;  and  that's  more  than 
my  worst  enemy  will  say  of  any  of  the  family  of  Benjamin 
Stubbs." 

"  Send  the  warrant  round  to  me,  and  I'll  put  in  an  alias," 
cried  Hiram,  from  behind  his  cover. 

u  Put  in  a  jackass,  and  you'll  put  in  yourself,  Mister 
Doo-but-little,"  shouted  Benjamin,  who  kept  squinting 
along  his  little  iron  tube,  with  great  steadiness. 

"  I  give  you  but  one  moment  to  yield,"  cried  Eichard. 
"  Benjamin !  Benjamin !  this  is  not  the  gratitude  I  expected 
from  you." 

" 1  tell  you,  Richard  Jones,"  said  Natty,  who  dreaded 
the  Sheriff's  influence  over  his  comrade;  "though  the 
canister  the  gal  brought  be  lost,  there's  powder  enough  in 
the  cave  to  lift  the  rock  you  stand  on.  I'll  take  off  my 
roof  if  you  don't  hold  your  peace." 

"  I  think  it  beneath  the  dignity  of  my  office  to  parley 
further  with  the  prisoners,"  the  Sheriff  observed  to  his 
companion,  while  they  both  retired  with  a  precipitancy 
that  Captain  Hollister  mistook  for  the  signal  to  advance. 

"Charge  baggonet!  "  shouted  the  veteran;  "march!" 

Although  this  signal  was  certainly  expected,  it  took  the 
assailed  a  little  by  surprise,  and  the  veteran  approached 
the  works,  crying,  "Courage,  my  brave  lads!  give  them  no 
quarter  unless  they  surrender!  "  and  struck  a  furious  blow 
upwards  with  his  sabre,  that  would  have  divided  the  steward 
into  moieties,  by  subjecting  him  to  the  process  of  decapita- 
tion, but  for  the  fortunate  interference  of  the  muzzle  of 
the  swivel.  As  it  was,  the  gun  was  dismounted  at  the 
critical  moment  that  Benjamin  was  applying  his  pipe  to 
the  priming,  and,  in  consequence,  some  five  or  six  dozen 
of  rifle  bullets  were  projected  into  the  air,  in  nearly  a  per- 
pendicular line.  Philosophy  teaches  us  that  the  atmos- 
phere will  not  retain  lead ;  and  two  pounds  of  the  metal, 
moulded  into  bullets  of  thirty  to  the  pound,  after  describ- 
ing an  ellipsis  in  their  journey,  returned  to  the  earth  rat- 
tling among  the  branches  of  the  trees  directly  over  the 
heads  of  the  troops  stationed  in  the  rear  of  their  captain. 
Much  of  the  success  of  an  attack,  made  by  irregular  sol- 
diers, depends  on  the  direction  in  which  they  are  first  got 
in  motion.    In  the  present  instance,  it  was  retrograde,  and 


THE  PIONEERS.  403 


m  less  than  a  minute  after  the  be  lowing  report  of  the  swivel 
among  the  rocks  and  caverns,  the  whole  weight  01  the  at- 
tack from  the  left  rested  on  the  prowess  of  the  single  arm 
of  the  veteran.  Benjamin  received  a  severe  contusion  trom 
the  recoil  of  his  gun,  which  produced  a  short  stupor 
during  which  period  the  ex-steward  was  prostrate  on  the 
Zund.  Captain  Hollister  availed  himself  of  this  circum- 
stance to  scramble  over  the  breast-work  and  f^  *J^ 
ing  in  the  bastion— for  such  was  the  nature  of  the  fortress, 
^connected  with  the  cave,  The  moment  the  veteran 
found  himself  within  the  works  of  his  enemy,  he  rushed  to 
the  edge  of  the  fortification,  and  waving  his  sabre  over  his 

hG"  Victoyf  come  on, my  brave  boys,  the  work's  our  own \" 
All  this  was  perfectly  military,  and  was  such  an  example 
as  a  gallant  officer  was  in  some  measure  bound  to  exhibit 
to  hit  men;  but  the  outcry  was  the  un  ucky  cause  ot  turn- 
ing the  tide  of  success.    Natty,  who  had  been  keeping  a 
vigilant  eye  on  the  wood-chopper,  and  the  enemy  immedi- 
ately before  him,  wheeled  at  this  alarm  and  was  appalled 
at  beholding  his  comrade  on  the  ground,  and  the  veteran 
standing  on  his  own  bulwark,  giving  forth  the  cry  of  victory 
The  muzzle  of  the  long  rifle  was  turned  instantly  towards 
the  Captain.    There  was  a  moment  when  the  hie .  0 :  the 
old  soldier  was  in  great  jeopardy;  but  the  object  to  shoot 
at  was  both  too  large  and  too  near  for  the  Leather- Stock- 
ing, who,  instead  of  pulling  his  trigger  applied  the  gun  to 
the  rear  of  his-enemy,  and  by  a  powerful  shove  sent  him 
outside  of  the  works  with  much  grater  rapidity  than  he 
had  entered  them.    The  spot  on  which  Captain  Hollister 
alighted  was  directly  in  front,  where,  as  his  feet  touched 
the  ground,  so  steep  and  slippery  was  the  side  of  the  moun- 
tain; it  seeined  to  recede  from  under  them    His  motion 
was  swift,  and  so  irregular  as  utterly  to  confuse  the  lacul- 
ties  of  the  old  soldier.    During  its  continuance,  he  sup- 
posed himself  to  be  mounted,  and  charging  through  the 
ranks  of  his  enemy.    At  every  tree  he  made  a  blow,  ot 
course,  as  at  a  foot  soldier;  and  just  as  he  was  making  the 
cut  "  St. -George"  at  a  half-burnt  sapling,  he  landed  m  the 
highway,  and,  to  his  utter  amazement,  at  the  teet  ot  his 
own  spouse.    When  Mrs.  Hollister,  who  was  toiling  up 
the  hill,  followed  by  at  least  twenty  curious  boys,  leaning 
with  one  hand  on  the  staff  with  which  she  ordinarily 
walked,  and  bearing  in  the  other  an  empty  bag,  witnessed 


4<>4 


THE  PIONEERS. 


this  exploit  of  her  husband,  indignation  immediately  got 
the  better,  not  only  of  her  religion,  but  of  her  philosophy. 

"Why,  sergeant!  is  it  flying  ye  are  ?"  she  cried;  "that 
I  should  live  to  see  a  husband  of  mine  turn  his  back  to  the 
inimy!  and  sich  a  one!  Here  have  I  been  telling  the  b'ys, 
as  we  come  along,  all  about  the  saige  of  Yorrektown,  and 
how  ye  was  hurted ;  and  how  ye'd  be  acting  the  same  ag'in 
the  day;  and  I  mate  ye  retraiting  jist  as  the  first  gun  is 
fired.  Och!  I  may  trow  away  the  bag !  for  if  there's  plun- 
der, 'twill  not  be  the  wife  of  sich  as  yeerself  that  will  be 
privileged  to  be  getting  the  same.  They  do  say,  too,  there 
is  a  power  of  goold  and  silver  in  the  place— the  Lord  for- 
give me  for  setting  my  heart  on  worreldly  things;  but 
what  falls  in  the  battle,  there's  Scriptur'  for  believing,  is 
the  just  property  of  the  victor." 

"  Eetreating ! "  exclaimed  the  amazed  veteran ;  "  where's 
my  horse  ?  he  has  been  shot  under  me — I" — 

"Is  the  man  mad?"  interrupted  his  wife;  "divil  the 
horse  do  ye  own,  sergeant,  and  ye're  nothing  but  a  shabby 
captain  of  malaishy.  0 !  if  the  raal  captain  was  here,  'tis 
the  other  way  ye'd  be  riding,  dear,  or  you  would  not  follow 
your  laider! " 

While  this  worthy  couple  were  thus  discussing  events, 
the  battle  began  to  rage  more  violently  than  ever  above 
them.  When  the  Leather-Stocking  saw  his  enemy  fairly 
under  head-way,  as  Benjamin  would  express  it,  he  gave 
his  attention  again  to  the  right  wing  of  the  assailants.  It 
would  have  been  easy  for  Kirby,  with  his  powerful  frame, 
to  have  seized  the  moment  to  scale  the  bastion,  and,  with 
his  great  strength,  to  have  sent  both  its  defenders  in  pur- 
suit of  the  veteran ;  but  hostility  appeared  to  be  the  passion 
that  the  wood-chooper  indulged  the  least  in  at  that  mo- 
ment, for,  in  a  voice  that  was  heard  by  the  retreating  left 
wing,  he  shouted,— 

"  Hurra !  well  done,  Captain !  keep  it  up !  how  he  handles 
his  bush-hook!  he  makes  nothing  of  a  sapling! "  and  such 
other  encouraging  exclamations  to  the  flying  veteran, 
until,  overcome  by  mirth,  the  good-natured  fellow  seated 
himself  on  the  ground,  kicking  the  earth  with  delight,  and 
giving  vent  to  peal  after  peal  of  laughter. 

Natty  stood  all  this  time  in  a  menacing  attitude,  with 
his  rifle  pointed  over  the  breastwork,  watching  with  a 
quick  and  cautious  eye  the  least  movement  of  the  assail- 
ants.   The  outcry  unfortunately  tempted  the  ungoverna- 


THE  PIONEERS.  4^5 

ble  curiosity  of  Hiram  to  take  a  peep  from  behind  his  cover 
the  state^f  the  battle.    Though  this  evolution  was  per- 
formed with  great  caution,  in  protecting  his  front,  h*left, 
like  many  a  better  commander,  his  rear  exposed  to  the  at- 
tacks of  his  enemy.    Mr.  Doolittle  belonged  physica^  to 
a  class  of  his  countrymen  to  whom  nature  has  denied,  in 
the  r  formation,  the  use  of  curved  lines.  Everything  about 
him  was  either  straight  or  angular.    But  his  tailor  was  a 
woman  who  worked,  like  a  regimental  ^ntra«to^Xhde 
of  rules  that  gave  the  same  configuration  to  the  whole 
human  species     Consequently  when  Mr  Doolittle  leaned 
forward  in  the  manner  described,  a  loose  drapery  appeared 
behind  the  tree,  at  which  the  rifle  of  Natty  was  pointed  with 
the  quickness  of  lightning.  A  less  experienced  man ^  would 
have  aimed  at  the  flowing  robe,  which  hung  like  a  festoon 
half  way  to  the  earth;  but  the  Leather-Stocking  knew 
both  the  man  and  his  female  tailor  better;  and  when  the 
smart  report  of  the  rifle  was  heard,  Kirby  who  watched 
the  whole  manoeuvre  in  breathless  expectation,  saw  the 
bark  fly  from  the  beech,  and  the  cloth,  at  some  distance 
above  the  loose  folds,  wave  at  the  same  instant     No  bat- 
tery was  ever  unmasked,  with  more  promptitude  than 
Hiram  advanced  from  behind  the  tree  at  this  summons 

He  made  two  or  three  steps,  with  great  precision,  to  the 
front,  and  placing  one  hand  on  the  afflicted  ^^hed 
forth  the  other,  with  a  menacing  air  towards  Natty,  and 
cried  aloud, —  ,       ,,.  .  T?11  .  -, 

"Gawl  darn  ye!  this  shan't  be  settled  so  easy;  1 11  tol- 
low  it  from  the  <  common  pleas '  to  the  <  court  of  errors. 

Such  a  shocking  imprecation  from  the  mouth  of  so  or- 
derly a  man  as  Squire  Doolittle,  with  the  fearless  manner 
in  which  he  exposed  himself,  together  with  perhaps,  the 
knowledge  that  Natty's  rifle  was  unloaded  encouraged 
the  troops  in  the  rear,  who  gave  a  loud  shout  and  fired  a 
volley  into  the  tree-tops,  after  the  contents  of  the  swivel. 
Animated  by  their  own  noise,  the  men  now  rushed  on  m 
earnest;  and  Billy  Kirby,  who  thought  the .joke,  good  as  it 
was,  had  gone  far  enough,  was  m  the  act  of  scaling  the , 
works,  when  Judge  Temple  appeared  on  the  opposite  side, 

GX"  SHence  and  peace!  why  do  I  see  murder  and  bloodshed 
attempted?  is  not  the  law  sufficient  to  protect  itself,  that 
armed  bands  must  be  gathered,  as  in  rebellion  and  war,  to 
see  justice  performed  ?  " 


406 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  'Tis  the  posse  comitatus,"  shouted  the  Sheriff,  from  a 
distant  rock,  "  who  " — 

"  Say  rather  a  posse  of  demons.  I  command  the  peace." 
<^~"  Hold !  shed  not  blood !  "  cried  a  voice  from  the  top  of 
the  Vision.    " Hold,  for  the  sake  of  Heaven,  fire  no  more! 
all  shall  be  yielded !  you  shall  enter  the  cave !  " 

Amazement  produced  the  desired  effect.  Natty,  who 
had  reloaded  his  piece,  quietly  seated  himself  on  the  logs, 
and  rested  his  head  on  his  hand,  while  the  "  Light  In- 
fantry "  ceased  their  military  movements,  and  waited  the 
issue  in  suspense. 

t  In  less  than  a  minute  Edwards  came  rushing  down  the 
hill,  followed  by  Major  Hartmann  with  a  velocity  that  was 
surprising  for  his  years.  They  reached  the  terrace  in  an 
instant,  from  which  the  youth  led  the  way,  by  the  hollow 
in  the  rock,  to  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  into  which  they  both 
entered;  leaving  all  without  silent,  and  gazing  after  them 
with  astonishment. 


CHAPTER  XL. 

I  am  dumb. 
Were  you  the  Doctor,  and  I  knew  you  not  ? 

Shakespeare. 

During  the  five  or  six  minutes  that  elapsed  before  the 
youth  and  Major  reappeared,  Judge  Temple  and  the 
Sheriff,  together  with  most  of  the  volunteers,  ascended  to 
the  terrace,  where  the  latter  began  to  express  their  conjec- 
tures of  the  result,  and  to  recount  their  individual  services 
in  the  conflict.  But  the  sight  of  the  peacemakers  ascend- 
ing the  ravine  shut  every  mouth. 

"  On  a  rude  chair,  covered  with  undressed  deerskins,  they 
supported  a  human  being,  whom  they  seated  carefully  and 
respectfully  in  the  midst  of  the  assembly.  His  head  was 
covered  by  long,  smooth  locks  of  the  color  of  snow.  His 
dress,  which  was  studiously  neat  and  clean,  was  composed 
of  such  fabrics  as  none  but  the  wealthiest  classes  wear,  but 
was  threadbare  and  patched;  and  on  hjs  feet  were  placed 
a  pair  of  moccasins,  ornamented  in  the  best  manner  of  In- 
dian ingenuity.  The  outlines  of  his  face  were  grave  and 
dignified,  though  his  vacant  eye,  which  opened  and  turned 
slowly  to  the  faces  of  those  around  him  in  unmeaning 


THE  PIONEERS. 


407 


looks,  too  surely  announced  that  the  period  had  aWived, 
when  age  brings  the  mental  imbecility  of  childhood. 

Natty  had  followed  the  supporters  of  this  imoxpectod 
object  to  the  top  of  the  cave,  and  took  his  station  at  a 
little  distance  behind  him,  leaning  on  his  rifle,  m  the 
midst  of  his  pursuers,  with  a  fearlessness  that  showed  that 
heavier  interests  than  those  which  affected  himself  were 
to  be  decided.  Major  Hartmann  placed  himself  beside  the 
aged  man,  uncovered,  with  his  whole  soul  beaming  through 
those  eyes  which  so  commonly  danced  with  frolic  and 
humor.  Edwards  rested  with  one  hand  familiarly,  but 
affectionately,  on  the  chair,  though  his  heart  was  swelling 
with  emotions  that  denied  him  utterance. 

All  eyes  were  gazing  intently,  but  each  tongue  continued 
mute.  At  length  the  decrepit  stranger,  turning  his  vacant 
looks  from  face  to  face,  made  a  feeble  attempt  to  rise, 
while  a  faint  smile  crossed  his  wasted  face,  like  an  habitual 
effort  at  courtesy,  as  he  said,  in  a  hollow,  tremulous  voice,— 

"Be  pleased  to  be  seated,  gentlemen.    The  council  will 
open  immediately.    Each  one  who  loves  a  good  and  virtu-, 
ous  king,  will  wish  to  see  these  colonies  continue  loyal. 
Be  seated— I  pray  you,  be  seated,  gentlemen.    The  troops 
shall  halt  for  the  night." 

"  This  is  the  wandering  of  insanity! "  said  Marmaduke; 
"  who  will  explain  this  scene  ?  " 

"No,  sir,"  said  Edwards,  firmly,  "'tis  only  the  decay  of 
nature;  who  is  answerable  for  its  pitiful  condition  remains 
to  be  shown." 

"  Will  the  gentlemen  dine  with  us,  my  son  ?  "  said  the 
old  stranger,  turning  to  a  voice  that  he  both  knew  and 
loved.'  "  Order  a  repast  suitable  for  his  Majesty's  officers. 
You  know  we  have  the  best  of  game  always  at  command." 

"  Who  is  this  man  ? "  asked  Marmaduke,  in  a  hurried 
voice,  in  which  the  dawnings  of  conjecture  united  with 
interest  to  put  the  question. 

"  This  man ! "  returned  Edwards  calmly,  his  voice,  how- 
ever, gradually  rising  as  he  proceeded ;  "  this  man,  sir, 
whom  you  behold  hid  in  caverns,  and  deprived  of  every- 
thing that  can  make  life  desirable,  was  once  the  companion 
and  counselor  of  those  who  ruled  your  country.  This 
man,  whom  you  see  helpless  and  feeble,  was  once  a  warrior, 
so  brave  and  fearless,  that  even  the  intrepid  natives  gave 
him  the  name  of  the  Fire-eater.  This  man,  whom  you 
now  see  destitute  of  even  the  ordinary  comfort  of  a  cabin, 


408 


THE  PIONEERS. 


in  which  to  shelter  his  head,  was  once  the  owner  of  great 
riches;  and,  Judge  Temple,  he  was  the  rightful  proprietor 
of  this  very  soil  on  which  we  now  stand.  This  man  was 
the  father  of  "— 

"  This,  then,"  cried  Marmaduke,  with  a  powerful  emo- 
tion, "this,  then,  is  the  lost  Major  Effiingham!" 

"Lost  indeed/1  said  the  youth,  fixing  a  piercing  eye  on 
the  other. 

"And  you !  and  you !  "  continued  the  Judge,  articulating 
with  difficulty. 

"  I  am  his  grandson." 

A  minute  passed  in  profound  silence.  All  eyes  were 
fixed  on  the  speakers,  and  even  the  old  German  appeared 
to  wait  the  issue  in  deep  anxiety.  But  the  moment  of 
agitation  soon  passed.  Marmaduke  raised  his  head  from 
his  hosom,  where  it  had  sunk,  not  in  shame,  but  in  devout 
mental  thanksgivings,  and,  as  large  tears  fell  over  his  fine 
manly  face,  he  grasped  the  hand  of  the  vouth  warmly,  and 
said, — 

"  Oliver,  I  forgive  all  thy  harshness — all  thy  suspicions. 
I  now  see  it  all.  I  forgive  thee  everything,  but  suffering 
this  aged  man  to  dwell  in  such  a  place,  when  not  only  my 
habitation,  but  my  fortune,  were  at  his  and  thy  command." 

"He's  true 'as  ter  steel!"  shouted  Major  Hartmann; 
"titnt'  I  tell  you,  lat,  dat  Marmatuke  Temple  vast  a  frient 
dat  woult  never  fail  in  ter  dime  as  of  neet  ?  " 

"  It  is  true,  Judge  Temple,  that  my  opinions  of  your 
conduct  have  been  staggered  by  what  this  worthy  gentle- 
man has  told  me.  When  I  found  it  impossible  to  convey 
my  grandfather  back  whence  the  enduring  love  of  this  old 
man  brought  him,  without  detection  and  exposure,  I  went 
to  the  Mohawk  in  quest  of  one  of  his  former  comrades,  in 
whose  justice  I  had  dependence.  He  is  your  friend, 
Judge  Temple,  but  if  what  he  says  be  true,  both  my  father 
and  myself  may  have  judged  you  harshly." 

"You  name  your  father!"  said  Marmaduke,  tenderly; 
"was  he,  indeed,  lost  in, the  packet  ?" 

"  He  was.  He  had  left  me,  after  several  years  of  fruit- 
less application  and  comparative  poverty,  in  Nova  Scotia, 
to  obtain  the  compensation  for  his  losses  which  the  British 
commissioners  had  at  length  awarded.  After  spending  a 
year  in  England,  he  was  returning  to  Halifax,  on  his  way 
to  a  government  to  which  he  had  been  appointed,  in  the 
West  Indies,  intending  to  go  to  the  place  where  my  grand- 


*     THE  PIONEERS.  4°9 

father  had  sojourned  during  and  since  the  war,  and  take 

him  with  us."  . 

"But  thou!"  said  Marmaduke,  with  powerful  interest; 
« I  had  thought  that  thou  hadst  perished  with  him." 

A  flush  passed  over  the  cheeks  of  the  young  man,  who 
o-azed  about  him  at  the  wondering  faces  of  the  volunteers, 
and  continued  silent.  Marmaduke  turned  to  the  veteran 
Captain,  who  just  then  rejoined  his  command,  and  said  — 

"March  thy  soldiers  back  again,  and  dismiss  them;  the  ^ 
zeal  of  the  Sheriff  has  much  mistaken  his  duty.  Dr.  Todd, 
I  will  thank  you  to  attend  to  the  injury  which  Hiram 
Doolittle  has  received  in  this  untoward  affair.  Richard, 
you  will  oblige  me  by  sending  up  the  carriage  to  the  top 
of  the  hill.  Benjamin,  return  to  your  duty  m  my  family. 

Unwelcome  as  these  orders  were  to  most  of  the  auditors, 
the  suspicion  that  they  had~somewhat  exceeded  the  whole- 
some restraints  of  the  law,  and  the  habitual  respect  with 
which  all  the  commands  of  the  Judge  were  received,  in- 
duced a  prompt  compliance. 

When  they  were  gone,  and  the  rock  was  lett  to  tne 
parties  most  interested  in  an  explanation,  Marmaduke 
pointing  to  the  aged  Major  Effingham,  said  to  his  grand- 
son,—  ,  •  .  . 

"  Had  we  not  better  remove  thy  parent  from  this  open 
place,  until  my  carriage  can  arrive  ?  "  . 

"  Pardon  me,  sir,  the  air  does  him  good,  and  he  has 
taken  it  whenever  there  was  no  dread  of  a  discovery.  I 
know  not  how  to  act,  Judge  Temple;  ought  I,  can  1,  suffer 
Major  Effingham  to  become  an  inmate  of  your  family  ? 

"  Thou  shalt  be  thyself  the  judge,"  said  Marmaduke, 
"  Thy  father  was  my  early  friend.  He  intrusted  his  for- 
tune to  my  care.  When  we  separated,  he  had  such  confi- 
dence in  me,  that  he  wished  no  security,  no  evidence  of 
the  trust,  even  had  there  been  time  or  convenience  for  ex- 
acting it.  This  thou  hast  heard  ?  " 

"  Most  truly,  sir,"  said  Edwards,  or  rather  Effingham,  as 
we  must  now  call  him.  : 

"  We  differed  in  politics.  If  the  cause  of  this  country 
was  successful,  the  trust  was  sacred  with  me,  for  none 
knew  of  thy  father's  interest.  If  the  crown  still  held  its 
sway,  it  would  be  easy  to  restore  the  property  of  so  loyal  a 
subject  as  Colonel  Effingham.    Is  not  this  plain  ?  " 

"  The  premises  are  good,  sir,"  continued  the  youth,  with 
the  same  incredulous  look  as  before. 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  Listen— listen,  poy,"  said  the  German.  "  Dere  is  not 
a  hair  as  of  ter  rogue  in  ter  het  of  ter  Tchooge." 

"  We  all  know  the  issue  of  the  struggle/'  continued 
Marmaduke,  disregarding  both.  "Thy  grandfather  was 
left  in  Connecticut,  regularly  supplied  by  thy  father  with 
the  means  of  such  a  subsistence  as  suited  his  wants.  This 
I  well  knew,  though  I  never  had  intercourse  with  him,  even 
in  our  happiest  days.  Thy  father  retired  with  the  troops 
to  prosecute  his  claims  on  England.  At  all  events,  his 
losses  must  be  great,  for  his  real  estates  were  sold,  and  I 
became  the  lawful  purchaser.  It  was  not  unnatural  to 
wish  that  he  might  have  no  bar  to  its  just  recovery." 

"  There  was  none,  but  the  difficulty  of  providing  for  so 
many  claimants." 

"  But  there  would  have  been  one,  and  an  insuperable  one, 
had  I  announced  to  the  world  that  I  held  these  estates, 
multiplied,  by  the  times  and  my  industry,  a  hundred  fold 
in  value,  only  as  his  trustee.  Thou  knowest  that  I  sup- 
plied him  with  considerable  sums,  immediately  after  the 
war." 

"You  did,  until"— 

""My  letters  were  returned  unopened.  Thy  father  had 
much  of  thy  own  spirit,  Oliver;  he  was  sometimes  hasty 
and  rash."  The  Judge  continued,  in  a  self-condemning 
manner,  "  Perhaps  my  fault  lies  the  other  way;  I  may 
possibly  look  too  far  ahead,  and  calculate  too  deeply.  It 
certainly  was  a  severe  trial  to  allow  the  man  whom  I  most 
loved,  to  think  ill  of  me  for  seven  years,  in  order  that  he 
might  honestly  apply  for  his  just  remunerations.  But 
had  he  opened  my  last  letters,  thou  wouldst  have  learned 
the  whole  truth.  Those  I  sent  him  to  England,  by  what 
my  agent  writes  me,  he  did  read.  He  died,  Oliver,  know- 
ing all.  He  died,  my  friend,  and  I  thought  thou  hadst 
died  with  him." 

"Our  poverty  would  not  permit  us  to  pay  for  two 
passages,"  said  the  youth,  with  the  extraordinary  emotion 
with  which  he  ever  alluded  to  the  degraded  state  of  his 
family;  "I  was  left  in  the  Province  to  wait  for  his  return, 
and  when  the  sad  news  of  his  loss  reached  me,  I  was  nearly 
penniless." 

"And  what  didst  thou,  boy  ? "  asked  Marmaduke  in  a 
faltering  voice. 

"I  took  my  passage  here  in  search  of  my  grandfather; 
for  I  well  knew  that  his  resources  were  gone,  with  the 


THE  PIONEERS. 


411 


half -pay  of  my  father.  On  reaching  his  abode,  I  learnt 
that  he  had  left  it  in  secret;  though  the  reluctant  hireling, 
who  had  deserted  him  in  his  poverty,  owned  to  my  urgent 
entreaties,  that  he  believed  he  had  been  carried  away  by 
an  old  man  who  had  formerly  been  his  servant.  1  knew 
at  once  it  was  Natty,  for  my  father  often  "—  ^ 

"  Was  Natty  a  servant  of  thy  grandfather  ?  exclaimed 
the  Judge.  "  (     „  . 

«  Of  that,  too,  were  you  ignorant  ?     said  the  youth,  m 

evident  surprise. 

"  How  should  I  know  it  ?  I  never  met  the  Major,  nor 
was  the  name  of  Bumppo  ever  mentioned  to  me.  I  knew 
him  only  as  a  maji_  of  the  woods,  and  one  who  lived  by 
hunting.    Such  men  are  "too  common  to  excite  surprise. 

"  He  was  reared  in  the  family  of  my  grandfather ;  served, 
him  for  many  years  during  their  campaigns  at  the  West, 
where  he  became  attached  to  the  woods;  and  he  was  left 
here  as  a  kind  of  locum  tenens  on  the  lands  that  old  Mo- 
hegan  (whose  life  my  grandfather  once  saved)  induced  the 
Delawares  to  grant  to  him,  when  they  admitted  him  as  an 
honorary  member  of  their  tribe/' 

"  This,  then,  is  thy  Indian  blood  ?  "  (         '  . 

«l  have  no  other,"  said  Edwards,  smiling;  Major 
Effingham  was  adopted  as  the  son  of  Mohegan,  who  at 
that  time  was  the  greatest  man  in  his  nation;  and  my 
father,  who  visited  those  people  when  a  boy,  received  the 
name  of  the  Eagle  from  them,  on  account  of  the  shape  ot 
his  face  as  I  understand.  They  have  extended  his  title  to- 
me. I  have  no  other  Indian  blood  or  breeding;  though  1 
have  seen  the  hour,  Judge  Temple,  when  I  could  wish  that 
such  had  been  my  lineage  and  education." 

"  Proceed  with  thy  tale,"  said  Marmaduke. 

« I  have  but  little  more  to  say,  sir.  I  followed  to  the 
lake  where  I  had  so  often  been  told  that  Natty  dwelt,  and 
found  him  maintaining  his  old  master  in  secret;  for  even 
he  could  not  bear  to  exhibit  to  the  world,  in  his  poverty 
and  dotage,  a  man  whom  a  whole  people  once  looked  up 
to  with  respect." 

"And  what  did  you  ?  " 

"  What  did  I!  I  spent  my  last  money  in  purchasing  a 
rifle,  clad  myself  in  a  coarse  garb,  and  learned  to  be  a 
hunter  by  the  side  of  Leather-Stocking.  You  know  the 
rest,  Judge  Temple." 

"And  vere  vast  olt  Fritz  Hartmann  ?    saia  the  German 


412 


THE  PIONEERS. 


reproachfully ;  "  didst  never  hear  a  name  as  of  olt  Fritz 
Hartmann  from  ter  mout  of  ter  fader,  lat  ?  " 

"  I  may  have  been  mistaken,  gentlemen,"  returned  the 
youth;  "but  I  had  pride,  and  could  not  submit  to  such  an 
exposure  as  this  day  even  has  reluctantly  brought  to  light. 
I  had  plans  that  might  have  been  visionary;  but,  should 
my  parent  survive  till  autumn,  I  purposed  taking  him 
with  me  to  the  city,  where  we  have  distant  relatives,  who 
must  have  learnt  to  forget  the  Tory  by  this  time.  He 
decays  rapidly,"  he  continued,  mournfully,  "  and  must  soon 
lie  by  the  side  of  old  Mohegan." 

The  air  being  pure,  and  the  day  fine,  the  party  continued 
conversing  on  the  rock,  until  the' wheels  of  Judge  Temple's 
carriage  were  heard  clattering  up  the  side  of  the  mountain, 
during  which  time  the  conversation  was  maintained  with 
deep  interest,  each  moment  clearing  up  some  doubtful 
action,  and  lessening  the  antipathy  of  the  youth  to  Mar- 
maduke.  He  no.  longer  objected  to  the  removal  of  his 
grandfather,  who  displayed  a  childish  pleasure  when  he 
found  himself  seated  once  more  in  a  carriage.  When 
placed  in  the  ample  hall  of  the  Mansion-house,  the  eyes  of 
the  aged  veteran  turned  slowly  to  the  objects  in  the  apart- 
ment, and  a  look  like  the  dawn  of  intellect  would,  for  mo- 
ments, flit  across  his  features,  when  he  invariably  offered 
some  useless  courtesies  to  those  near  him,  wandering  pain- 
fully, in  his  subjects.  The  exercise  and  the  change  soon 
produced  an  exhaustion  that  caused  them  to  remove  him 
to  his  bed,  where  he  lay  for  hours,  evidently  sensible  of 
the  change  in  his  comforts,  and  exhibiting  that  mortify- 
ing picture  of  human  nature,  which  too  plainly  shows  that 
the  propensities  of  the  animal  continue  even  after  the 
nobler  part  of  the  creature  appears  to  have  vanished. 

Until  his  parent  was  placed  comfortably  in  bed,  with 
Natty  seated  at  his  side,  Effingham  did  not  quit  him.  He 
then  obeyed  a  summons  to  the  library  of  the  Judge,  where 
he  found  the  latter,  with  Major  Hartmann,  waiting  for 
him. 

"Read  this  paper,  Oliver,"  said  Marmaduke  to  him,  as 
he  entered,  "and  thou  wilt  find  that,  so  far  from  intend- 
ing thy  family  wrong  during  life,  it  has  been  my  care  to 
see  that  justice  should  be  done  at  even  a  later  day." 

The  youth  took  the  paper,  which  his  first  glance  told 
him  was  the  will  of  the  Judge.    Hurried  and  agitated  as 
^Jie  was,  he  discovered  that  the  date  corresponded  with  the 


THE  PIONEERS. 


413 


time  of  the  unusual  depression  of  Marmaduke.  As  he  pro- 
ceeded his  eyes  began  to  moisten,  and  the  hand  which  held 
the  instrument  shook  violently. 

The  will  commenced  with  the  usual  forms,  spun  out  by 
the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Van  der  School;  but  after  this  subject 
was  fairly  exhausted,  the  pen  of  Marmaduke  became 
plainly  visible.  In  clear,  distinct,  manly,  an  d  even  eloquent 
language,  he  recounted  his  obligations  to  Colonel  Effing- 
ham, the  nature  of  their  connection,  and  the  circumstances 
in  which  they  separated.  He  then  proceeded  to  relate  the 
motives  of  his  long  silence,  mentioning,  however,  large 
sums  that  he  had  forwarded  to  his  friend,  which  had  been 
returned  with  the  letters  unopened.  After  this,  he  spoke 
of  his  search  for  the  grandfather,  who  had  unaccountably 
disappeared,  and  his  fears  that  the  direct  heir  of  the  trust 
was  buried  in  the  ocean  with  his  father. 

After,  in  short,  recounting  in  a  clear  narrative,  the 
events  which  our  readers  must  now  be  able  to  connect,  he 
proceeded  to  make  a  fair  and  exact  statement  of  the  sums 
left  in  his  care  by  Colonel  Effingham.  A  devise  of  his 
whole  estate  to  certain  responsible  trustees  followed;  to 
hold  the  same  for  the  benefit,  in  equal  moieties,  of  his 
daughter,  on  one  part,  and  of  Oliver  Effingham,  formerly 
a  major  in  the  army  of  Great  Britain,  and  of  his  son,  Ed- 
ward Effingham,  and  of  his  son  Edward  Oliver  Effingham, 
or  to  the  survivor  of  them,  and  the  descendants  of  such 
survivor,  forever,  on  the  other  part.  The  trust  was  to  en- 
dure until  1810,  when,  if  no  person  appeared,  or  could  be 
found,  after  sufficient  notice,  to  claim  the  moiety  so  de- 
vised, then  a  certain  sum,  calculating  the  principal  and 
interest  of  his  debt  to  Colonel  Effingham,  was  to  be  paid 
to  the  heirs  at  law  of  the  Effingham  family,  and  the  bulk 
of  his  estate  was  to  be  conveyed  in  fee  to  his  daughter,  or 
her  heirs. 

The  tears  fell  from  the  eyes  of  the  young  man,  as  he 
read  this  undeniable  testimony  of  the  good  faith  of  Mar- 
maduke, and  his  bewildered  gaze  was  still  fastened  on  the 
paper,  when  a  voice,  that  thrilled  on  every  nerve,  spoke 
near  him,  saying, — 

"  Do  you  yet  doubt  us,  Oliver  ? 99 

"  I  have  never  doubted  you!  "  cried  the  youth,  recovering 
his  recollection  and  his  voice,  as  he  sprang  to  seize  the 
hand  of  Elizabeth ;  "  no,  not  one  moment  has  my  faith  in 
you  wavered." 


414 


THE  PIONEERS. 


"  And  my  father  "— 
.  God  bless  him!" 

"  I  thank  thee,  my  son/'  said  the  Judge,  exchanging  a 
warm  pressure  of  the  hand  with  the  youth;  "but  we  have 
both  erred;  thou  hast  been  too  hasty,  and  I  have  been  too 
slow.  One  half  of  my  estates  shall  be  thine  as  soon  as  they 
can  be  conveyed  to  thee;  and  if  what  my  suspicions  tell 
me  be  true,  I  suppose  the  other  must  follow  speedily." 
He  took  the  hand  which  he  held,  and  united  it  with  that 
of  his  daughter,  and  motioned  towards  the  door  to  the 
Major. 

"I  telt  you  vat,  gal !  "  said  the  old  German,  good-humor- 
edly;  "if  I  vast  as  I  vast  ven  I  servit  mit  his  grandfader 
on  ter  lakes,  ter  lazy  tog  shouln't  vin  ter  prize  as  for  not- 
tin." 

"Come,  come,  old  Fritz,"  said  the  Judge;  "you  are  sev- 
enty, not  seventeen;  Richard  waits  for  you  with  a  bowl  of 
egg-nog,  in  the  hall." 

"  Richart !  ter  duyvel ! "  exclaimed  the  other,  hastening 
out  of  the  room;  "he  makes  ter  nog  ast  for  ter  horse-  I 
vilt  show  ter  Sheriff  mit  my  own  hants !  Ter  duyvel !  I 
pelieve  he  sweetens  mit  ter  yankee  melasses ! " 

Marmaduke  smiled  and  nodded  affectionately  at  the 
young  couple,  and  closed  the  door  after  them.  If  any  of 
our  readers  expect  that  we  are  going  to  open  it  again,  for 
their  gratification,  they  are  mistaken. 

The  tete-a-tete  continued  for  a  very  unreasonable  time; 
how  long  we  shall  not  say;  but  it  was  ended  by  six  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  for  at  that  hour  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  made 
his  appearance  agreeably  to  the  appointment  of  the  pre- 
ceding day,  and  claimed  the  ear  of  Miss  Temple.  He  was 
admitted ;  when  he  made  an  offer  of  his  hand,  with  much 
suavity,  together  with  his  "amis  beeg  and  leet',  his  pere, 
his  mere,  and  his  sucre-boosh."  Elizabeth  might,  possibly, 
have  previously  entered  into  some  embarrassing  and  bind- 
ing engagements  with  Oliver,  for  she  declined  the  tender 
of  all,  in  terms  as  polite,  though  perhaps  a  little  more  de- 
cided, than  those  in  which  they  were  made. 

The  Frenchman  soon  joined  the  German  and  the  Sheriff 
in  the  hall,  who  compelled  him  to  take  a  seat  with  them 
at  the  table,  where,  by  the  aid  of  punch,  wine,  and  egg- 
nog,  they  soon  extracted  from  the  complaisant  Monsieur 
Le  Quoi  the  nature  of  his  visit.  It  was  evident  that  he 
had  made  the  offer,  as  a  duty  which  a  well-bred  man  owed 


THE  PIONEERS.  \\ 5 

to  a  lady  in  such  a  retired  place,  before  he  left  the  coun- 
try, and  that  his  feelings  were  but  very  little,  if  at  all,  in- 
terested in  the  matter.  After  a  few  potations,  the  waggish 
pair  persuaded  the  exhilarated  Frenchman  that  there  was 
an  inexcusable  partiality  in  offering  to  one  lady,  and  not 
extending  a  similar  courtesy  to  another.  Consequently, 
about  nine,  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  sallied  forth  to  the  Rectory, 
on  a  similar  mission  to  Miss  Grant,  which  proved  as  suc- 
cessful as  his  first  effort  in  love. 

When  he  returned  to  the  Mansion-house,  at  ten,  Richard 
and  the  Major  were  still  seated  at  the  table.  They  at- 
tempted to  persuade  the  Gaul,  as  the  Sheriff  called  him, 
that  he  should  next  try  Remarkable  Pettibone.  But, 
though  stimulated  by  mental  excitement  and  wine^two 
hours  of  abstruse  logic  were  thrown  away  on  this  subject; 
for  he  declined  their  advice,  with  a  pertinacity  truly  as- 
tonishing in  so  polite  a  man. 

When  Benjamin  lighted  Monsieur  Le  Quoi  from  the 
door,  he  said,  at  parting, — 

"If-so-be,  Mounsheer,  you'd  run  alongside  Mistress 
Prettybones,  as  the  Squire  Dickens  was  bidding  ye,  'tis 
my  notion  you'd  have  been  grappled;  in  which  case,  d'ye 
see,  you  mought  have  been  troubled  in  swinging  clear 
again  in  a  handsome  manner;  for  tho'f  Miss  Lizzy  and 
the  parson's  young'un  be  tidy  little  vessels,  that  shoot  by  a 
body  on  a  wind,  Mistress  Remarkable  is  sum'mat  of  a 
galliot  fashion;  when  you  once  takes  'em  in  tow,  they 
doesn't  like  to  be  cast  off  again." 


CHAPTER  XLI. 

Yes,  sweep  ye  on !  We  will  not  leave, 
For  them  who  triumph,  those  who  grieve. 

With  that  armada  gay 
Be  laughter  loud,  and  jocund  shout— 
—But  with  that  skiff 

Abides  the  minstrel  tale.  Lord  of  the  Isles. 

The  events  of  our  tale  carry  us  through  the  summer; 
and  after  making  nearly  the  circle  of  the  year,  we  must 
conclude  our  labors  in  the  delightful  month  of  October. 
Many  important  incidents  had,  however,  occurred  in  the 
intervening  period ;  a  few  of  which  it  may  be  necessary 
to  recount. 


416  THE  PIONEERS. 

I 

The  two  principal  were  the  marriage  of  Oliver  and  Eliza- 
beth, and  the  death  of  Major  Effingham.  They  both  took 
place  early  in  September ;  and  the  former  preceded  the 
latter  only  a  few  days.  The  old  man  passed  away  like  the 
last  glimmering  of  a  taper;  and  though  his  death  cast  a 
melancholy  over  the  family,  grief  could  not  follow  such 
an  end. 

One  of  the  chief  concerns  of  Marmaduke  was  to  recon- 
cile the  even  conduct  of  a  magistrate  with  the  course  that 
his  feelings  dictated  to  the  criminals.  The  day  succeeding 
the  discovery  at  the  cave,  however,  Natty  and  Benjamin 
re-entered  the  jail  peaceably,  where  they  continued,  well 
Jed  and  comfortable,  until  the  return  of  an  express  to 
Albany,  who  brought  the  governor's  pardon  to  the  Leather- 
Stocking.  In  the  mean  time,  proper  means  were  employed 
to  satisfy  Hiram  for  the  assaults  on  his  person;  and  on 
the  same  day,  the  two  comrades  issued  together  into  so- 
ciety again,  with  their  characters  not  at  all  affected  by 
the  imprisonment. 

Mr.  Doolittle  began  to  discover,  that  neither  architec- 
ture, nor  his  law,  was  quite  suitable  to  the  growing  wealth 
and  intelligence  of  the  settlement ;  and  after  exacting  the 
last  cent  that  was  attainable  in  his  compromises,  to  use  the 
language  of  "the  country,  he  "  pulled  up  stakes,"  and  pro- 
ceeded further  west,  scattering  his  professional  science  and 
legal  learning  through  the  land ;  vestiges  of  both  of  which 
are  to  be  discovered  there  even  to  the  present  hour. 

Poor  Jotham,  whose  life  paid  the  forfeiture  of  his  folly, 
acknowledged  before  he  died,  that  his  reasons  for  believ- 
ing in  a  mine  were  extracted  from  the  lips  of  a  sibyl,  who, 
by  looking  in  a  magic  glass,  was  enabled  to  discover  the 
hidden  treasures  of  the  earth.  Such  superstition  was  fre- 
quent in  the  new  settlements ;  and  after  the  first  surprise 
was  over,  the  better  part  of  the  community  forgot  the 
subject.  But,  at  the  same  time  that  it  removed  from  the 
breast  of  Eichard  a  lingering  suspicion  of  the  acts  of  the 
three  hunters,  it  conveyed  a  mortifying  lesson  to  him, 
which  brought  many  quiet  hours,  in  future,  to  his  cousin 
Marmaduke.  It  may  be  remembered,  that  the  Sheriff 
^confidently  pronounced  this  to  be  no  "  visionary  "  scheme, 
and  that  word  was  enough  to  shut  his  lips,  at  any  time 
within  the  next  ten  years. 

Monsieur  Le  Quoi,  who  has  been  introduced  to  our 
readers,  because  no  picture  of  that  country  would  be  faith- 


THE  PIONEERS. 


4'7 


ful  without  some  such  character,  found  the  island  of  Mar- 
tinique, and  his  "  sucre-boosh,"  in  possession  of  the  Eng- 
lish; but  Marmaduke  and  his  family  were  much  gratified 
in  soon  hearing  that  he  had  returned  to  his  bureau,  in 
Paris;  where  he  afterwards  issued  yearly  bulletins  of  hisv 
happiness,  and  of  his  gratitude  to  his  friends  in  America. 

With  this  brief  explanation,  we  must  return  to  our  nar- 
rative. Let  the  American  reader  imagine  one  of  our 
mildest  October  mornings,  when  the  sun  seems  a  ball  of 
silvery  fire,  and  the  elasticity  of  the  air  is  felt  while  it  is 
inhaled,  imparting  vigor  and  life  to  the  whole  system ;  the 
weather,  neither  too  warm  nor  too  cold,  but  of  that  happy 
temperature  which  stirs  the  blood,  without  bringing  the 
lassitude  of  spring.  It  was  on  such  a  morning,  about  the 
middle  of  the  month,  that  Oliver  entered  the  hall  where 
Elizabeth  was  issuing  her  usual  orders  for  the  day,  and 
requested  her  to  join  him  in  a  short  excursion  to  the  lake 
side.  The  tender  melancholy  in  the  manner  of  her  hus- 
band caught  the  attention  of  Elizabeth,  who  instantly 
abandoned  her  concerns,  threw  a  light  shawl  across  her 
shoulders,  and  concealing  her  raven  hair  under  a  gypsy, 
she  took  his  arm,  and  submitted  herself,  without  a  ques- 
tion, to  his  guidance.  They  crossed  the  bridge,  and  had 
turned  from  the  highway,  along  the  margin  of  the  lake, 
before  a  word  was  exchanged.  Elizabeth  well  knew,  by 
the  direction,  the  object  of  the  walk,  and  respected  the 
feelings  of  her  companion  too  much  to  indulge  in  untimely 
conversation.  But  when  they  gained  the  open  fields,  and 
her  eye  roamed  over  the  placid  lake,  covered  with  wild 
fowl  already  journeying  from  the  great  northern  waters 
to  seek  a  warmer  sun,  but  lingering  to  play  in  the  limpid 
sheet  of  the  Otsego,  and  to  the  sides  of  the  mountain, 
which  were  gay  with  the  thousand  dyes  of  autumn,  as  if 
to  grace  their  bridal,  the  swelling  heart  of  the  young  wife 
burst  out  in  speech. 

"  This  is  not  a  time  for  silence,  Oliver! "  she  said  cling- 
ing more  fondly  to  his  arm ;  "  everything  in  nature  seems 
to  speak  the  praises  of  the  Creator;  why  should  we,  who 
have  so  much  to  be  grateful  for,  be  silent  ? 

"Speak  on!"  said  her  husband,  smiling;  "I  love  the 
sounds  of  your  voice.  You  must  anticipate  our  errand 
hither:  I  have  told  you  my  plans;  how  do  you  like 
them  ?  " 

"I  must  first  see  them/7  returned  his  wife.    "But  I 
14 


4i8 


THE  PIONEERS. 


have  had  my  plans,  too;  it  is  time  I  should  begin  to  di- 
vulge them." 

"  You !  It  is  something  for  the  comfort  of  my  old  friend 
Natty,  I  know." 

"Certainly  of  Natty;  but  we  have  other  friends  besides 
the  Leather-Stocking  to  serve.  Do  you  forget  Louisa,  and 
her  father?" 

"No,  surely;  have  I  not  given  one  of  the  best  farms  in 
the  county  to  the  good  divine  ?  As  for  Louisa,  I  should 
wish  you  to  keep  her  always  near  us." 

"  You  do !  "  said  Elizabeth,  slightly  compressing  her  lips; 
"but  poor  Louisa  may  have  other  views  for  herself;  she 
may  wish  to  follow  my  example,  and  marry." 

"  I  don't  think  it,"  said  Effingham,  musing  a  moment ;  "  I 
really  don't  know  any  one  hereabouts  good  enough  for  her." 

"  Perhaps  not  here ;  but  there  are  other  places  besides 
Templeton,  and  other  churches  besides  '  New  St.  Paul's/  " 

"  Churches,  Elizabeth !  you  would  not  wish  to  lose  Mr. 
Grant,  surely!  Though  simple,  he  is  an  excellent  man.  I 
shall  never  find  another  who  has  half  the  veneration  for 
my  orthodoxy.  You  would  humble  me  from  a  saint  to  a 
very  common  sinner." 

"  It  must  be  done,  sir,"  returned  the  lady,  with  a  half- 
concealed  smile,  "  though  it  degrades  you  from  an  angel  to 
a  man." 

"  But  you  forget  the  farm." 

"  He  can  lease  it,  as  others  do.  Besides,  would  you  have 
a  clergyman  toil  in  the  fields  ?  " 

"  Where  can  he  go  ?  you  forget  Louisa." 

"No,  I  do  not  forget  Louisa,"  said  Elizabeth,  again 
compressing  her  beautiful  lips.  "  You  know,  Effingham, 
that  my  father  has  told  you  that  I  ruled  him,  and  that  I 
should  rule  you.    I  am  now  about  to  exert  my  power." 

"Anything,  anything,  dear  Elizabeth,  but  not  at  the  ex- 
pense of  us  all ;  not  at  the  expense  of  your  friend." 

"How  do  you  know,  sir,  that  it  will  be  so  much  at 
the  expense  of  my  friend  ?  "  said  the  lady,  fixing  her  eyes 
with  a  searching  look  on  his  countenance,  where  they  met 
only  the  unsuspecting  expression  of  manly  regret. 

"  How  do  I  know  it  ?  why,  it  is  natural  that  she  should 
regret  us." 

"  It  is  our  duty  to  struggle  with  our  natural  feelings," 
returned  the  lady;  "and  there  is  but  little  cause  to  fear 
that  such  a  spirit  as  Louisa's  will  not  effect  it," 


THE  PIONEERS. 


419 


K  But  what  is  your  plan  ? 99 

"  Listen,  and  you  shall  know.  My  father  has  procured^ 
a  call  for  Mr.  Grant,  to  one  of  the  towns  on  the  Hudson, 
where  he  can  live  more  at  his  ease  than  in  journeying 
through  these  woods;  where  he  can  spend  the  evening  of 
his  life  in  comfort  and  quiet ;  and  where  his  daughter  may 
meet  with  such  society,  and  form  such  a  connection,  as 
may  be  proper  for  one  of  her  years  and  character." 

"  Bess !  you  amaze  me !  I  did  not  think  you  had  been 
such  a  manager ! " 

"  0 !  I  manage  more  deeply  than  you  imagine,  sir,"  said 
the  wife,  archly  smiling  again ;  "  but  it  is  my  will,  and  it 
is  your  duty  to  submit, — for  a  time  at  least." 

Effingham  laughed;  but  as  they  approached  the  end  of 
their  walk,  the  subject  was  changed  by  common  consent. 

The  place  at  which  they  arrived  was  the  little  spot  of 
level  ground,  where  the  cabin  of  the  Leather-Stocking  had 
so  long  stood.  Elizabeth  found  it  entirely  cleared  of  rub- 
bish, and  beautifully  laid  down  in  turf,  by  the  removal  of 
sods,  which,  in  common  with  the  surrounding  country, 
had  grown  gay,  under  the  influence  of  profuse  showers,  as 
if  a  second  spring  had  passed  over  the  land.  This  little 
place  was  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  mason-work,  and  they 
entered  by  a  small  gate,  near  which,  to  the  surprise  of 
both,  the  rifle  of  Natty  was  leaning  against  the  wall. 
Hector  and  the  slut  reposed  on  the  grass  by  its  side,  as  if 
conscious  that,  however  altered,  they  were  lying  on  the 
ground,  and  were  surrounded  by  objects,  with  which  they 
were  familiar.  The  hunter  himself  was  stretched  on  the 
earth,  before  a  headstone  of  white  marble,  pushing  aside 
with  his  fingers  the  long  grass  that  had  already  sprung  up 
from  the  luxuriant  soil  around  its  base,  apparently  to  lay 
bare  the  inscription.  By  the  side  of  this  stone,  which  was 
a  simple  slab  at  the  head  of  a  grave,  stood  a  rich  monu- 
ment, decorated  with  an  urn,  and  ornamented  with  the 
chisel. 

Oliver  and  Elizabeth  approached  the  graves  with  a  light 
tread,  unheard  by  the  old  hunter,  whose  sunburnt  face 
was  working,  and  whose  eyes  twinkled  as  if  something  im- 
peded their  vision.  After  some  little  time,  Natty  raised 
himself  slowly  from  the  ground,  and  said  aloud, — 

"Well,  well— I'm  bold  to  say  it's  all  right!  There's 
something  that  I  suppose  is  reading;  but  I  can't  make 
anything  of  it;  though  the  pipe,  and  the  tomahawk,  and 


THE  PIONEERS. 


the  moccasins,  be  pretty  well — pretty  well,  for  a  man  that, 
I  dares  to  say,  never  seed  'ither  of  the  things.  Ah's  me ! 
there  they  lie,  side  by  side,  happy  enough !  Who  will  there 
be  to  put  me  in  the  'arth  when  my  time  comes  ?  " 

"When  that  unfortunate  hour  arrives,  Natty,  friends 
shall  not  be  wanting  to  perform  the  last  offices  for  you," 
said  Oliver,  a  little  touched  at  the  hunter's  soliloquy. 

The  old  man  turned,  without  manifesting  surprise,  for 
he  had  got  the  Indian  habits  in  this  particular,  and  run- 
ning his  hand  under  the  bottom  of  his  nose,  seemed  to 
wipe  away  his  sorrow  with  the  action. 

"  You've  come  out  to  see  the  graves,  children,  have  ye  ?  " 
he  said ;  "  well,  well,  they're  wholesome  sights  to  young  as 
well  as  old." 

"  I  hope  they  are  fitted  to  your  liking,"  said  Effingham ; 
"  no  one  has  a  better  right  than  yourself  to  be  consulted 
in  the  matter." 

"  Why,  seeing  that  I  ain't  used  to  fine  graves,"  returned 
the  old  man,  "  it  is  but  little  matter  consarning  my  taste. 
Ye  laid  the  Major's  head  to  the  west,  and  Mohegan's  to 
the  east,  did  ye,  lad  ?  " 

"At  your  request  it  was  done." 

"It's  so  best,"  said  the  hunter;  "  they  thought  they  had 
to  journey  different  ways,  children;  though  there  is  One 
greater  than  all,  who'll  bring  the  just  together,  at  his  own 
time,  and  who'll  whiten  the  skin  of  a  black-moor,  and 
place  him  on  a  footing  with  princes." 

"  There  is  but  little  reason  to  doubt  that,"  said  Eliza- 
beth, whose  decided  tones  were  changed  to  a  soft,  melan- 
choly voice;  "  I  trust  we  shall  all  meet  again,  and  be  happy 
together." 

"  Shall  we,  child,  shall  we  ?  "  exclaimed  the  hunter,  with 
unusual  fervor;  "there's  comfort  in  that  thought  too. 
But  before  I  go,  I  should  like  to  know  what  'tis  you  tell 
these  people,  that  be  flocking  into  the  country  like  pigeons 
in  the  spring,  of  the  old  Delaware,  and  of  the  bravest 
white  man  that  ever  trod  the  hills." 

Effingham  and  Elizabeth  were  surprised  at  the  manner 
of  the  Leather-Stocking,  which  was  unusually  impressive 
and  solemn ;  but,  attributing  it  to  the  scene,  the  young 
man  turned  to  the  monument,  and  read  aloud, — 

"  'Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Oliver  Effingham,  Esquire, 
formerly  a  Major  in  his  B.  Majesty's  60th  Foot;  a  soldier 
of  tried  valor;  a  subject  of  chivalrous  loyalty;  and  a  mau 


THE  PIONEERS. 


421 


of  honesty.  To  these  virtues,  lie  added  the  graces  of  a 
Christian.  The  morning  of  his  life  was  spent  in  honor, 
wealth,  and  power;  but  its  evening  was  obscured  by  pov- 
erty, neglect,  and  disease,  which  were  alleviated  only  by 
the  tender  care  of  his  old,  faithful  and  upright  friend  and 
attendant,  Nathaniel  Bumppo.  His  descendants  rear  this 
stone  to  the  virtues  of  the  master,  and  to  the  enduring 
gratitude  of  the  servant/  " 

The  Leather-Stocking  stared  at  the  sound  of  his  own 
name,  and  a  smile  of  joy  illumined  his  wrinkled  features, 
as  he  said, — 

"And  did  ye  say  it,  lad  ?  have  you  then  got  the  old 
man's  name  cut  in  the  stone,  by  the  side  of  his  master's  ? 
God  bless  ye,  children !  'twas  a  kind  thought,  and  kind- 
ness goes  to  the  heart  as  life  shortens." 

Elizabeth  turned  her  back  to  the  speakers.  Effingham 
made  a  fruitless  effort  before  he  succeeded  in  saying, — 

"It  is  there  cut  in  plain  marble;  but  it  should  have  been 
written  in  letters  of  gold ! " 

"  Show  me  the  name,  boy/'  said  Natty,  with  simple  eager- 
ness; "let  me  see  my  own  name  placed  in  such  honor. 
'Tis  a  gin'rous  gift  to  a  man  who  leaves  none  of  his  name 
and  family  behind  him,  in  a  country  where  he  has  tarried 
so  long." 

Effingham  guided  his  finger  to  the  spot,  and  Natty  fol- 
lowed the  windings  of  the  letters  to  the  end  with  deep 
interest,  when  he  raised  himself  from  the  tomb,  and  said, — 

"  I  suppose'  it's  all  right ;  and  it's  kindly  thought,  and 
kindly  done !    But  what  have  ye  put  over  the  red-skin  ?  " 

"  You  shall  hear : — 

" '  This  stone  is  raised  to  the  memory  of  an  Indian  chief, 
of  the  Delaware  tribe,  who  was  known  by  the  several  names 
of  John  Mohegan;  Mohican'  " — 

"  Mo-hee-can,  lad,  they  call  theirselves !  'he-can." 

"  Mohican ;  i  and  Ohingagook '  " — 

"'Gaeh,  boy;  'gach-gook;  Chingachgook,  which,  intar- 
preted,  means  Big  Sarpent.  The  name  should  be  set  down 
right,  for  an  Indian's  name  has  always  some  meaning  in  it." 

"  I  will  see  it  altered.  '  He  was  the  last  of  his  people 
who  continued  to  inhabit  this  country;  and  it  maybe  said 
of  him,  that  his  faults  were  those  of  an  Indian,  and  his 
virtues  those  of  a  man.'  " 

"You  never  said  truer  word,  Mr.  Oliver;  ah's  me!  if  you 
had  knowed  him  as  I  did,  in  his  prime,  in  that  very  battle 


422 


THE  PIONEERS. 


where  the  old  gentleman,  who  sleeps  by  his  side,  saved  his 
life,  when  them  thieves,  the  Iroquois,  had  him  at  the 
stake,  you'd  have  said  all  that,  and  more  too.  I  cut  the 
thongs  with  this  very  hand,  and  gave  him  my  own  toma- 
hawk and  knife,  seeing  that  the  rifle  was  always  my  fav'rite 
weapon.  He  did  lay  about  him  like  a  man !  I  met  him 
as  I  was  coming  home  from  the  trail,  with  eleven  Mingo 
scalps  on  his  pole.  You  needn't  shudder,  Madam  Effing- 
ham, for  they  was  all  from  shaved  heads  and  warriors. 
When  I  look  about  me,  at  these  hills,  where  I  used  to 
could  count  sometimes  twenty  smokes,  curling  over  the 
tree-tops,  from  the  Delaware  camps,  it  raises  mournful 
thoughts,  to  think  that  not  a  red-skin  is  left  of  them  all ; 
unless  it  be  a  drunken  vagabond  from  the  Oneidas,  or  them 
Yankee  Indians,  who,  they  say,  be  moving  up  from  the 
sea-shore;  and  who  belong  to  none  of  God's  creaturs,  to 
my  seeming,  being,  as  it  were,  neither  fish  nor  flesh — 
neither  white  man  nor  savage.  Well,  well !  the  time  has 
come  at  last,  and  I  must  go  " — 

"  Go !  "  echoed  Edwards,  "  whither  do  you  go  ?  " 

The  Leather-Stocking,  who  had  imbibed  unconsciously 
many  of  the  Indian  qualities,  though  he  always  thought  of 
himself  as  of  a  civilized  being  compared  with  even  the 
Delawares,  averted  his  face  to  conceal  the  workings  of  his 
muscles  as  he  stopped  to  lift  a  large  pack  from  behind  the 
tomb  which  he  placed  deliberately  on  his  shoulders. 

"  Go ! "  exclaimed  Elizabeth,  approaching  him  with  a 
hurried  step ;  "  you  should  not  venture  so  far  in  the  woods 
alone  at  your  time  of  life,  Natty ;  indeed,  it  is  imprudent. 
He  is  bent,  Effingham,  on  some  distant  hunting." 

"  What  Mrs.  Effingham  tells  you  is  true,  Leather-Stock- 
ing," said  Edwards ;  "  there  can  be  no  necessity  for  your 
submitting  to  such  hardships  now !  So  throw  aside  your 
pack,  and  confine  your  hunt  to  the  mountains  near  us,  if 
you  will  go." 

"  Hardship !  'tis  a  pleasure,  children,  and  the  greatest 
that  is  left  me  on  this  side  the  grave." 

"  No,  no ;  you  shall  not  go  to  such  a  distance,"  cried 
Elizabeth,  laying  her  white  hand  on  his  deerskin  pack ; 
"  I  am  right !  I  feel  his  camp-kettle,  and  a  canister  of 
powder!  he  must  not  be  suffered  to  wander  so  far  from  us, 
Oliver ;  remember  how  suddenly  Mohegan  dropped  away." 

*  I  knowed  the  parting  would  come  hard,  children ;  I 
knowed  it  would ! "  said  Nattv,  "  and  so  I  got  aside  to  look 


THE  PIONEERS.  423 

at  the  graves  by  myself,  and  thought  if  I  left  ye  the  keep- 
sake which  the  Major  gave  me,  when  we  first  parted  in 
the  woods,  ye  wouldn't  take  it  unkind,  but  would  know, 
that,  let  the  old  man's  body  go  where  it  might,  his  feelings 
stayed  behind  him." 

"This  means  something  more  than  common!  ex- 
claimed the  youth;  "where  is  it,  Natty,  that  you  purpose 

g°The  hunter  drew  nigh  him  with  a  confident,  reasoning 
air,  as  if  what  he  had  to  say  would  silence  all  objections, 

aI1"  Why^ad,  they  tell  me  that  on  the  Big  Lakes  there's 
the  best  of  hunting,  and  a  great  range,  without  a  white 
man  on  it,  unless  it  may  be  one  like  myself.  I  m  weary 
of  living  in  clearings,  and  where  the  hammer  is  sounding 
in  my  ears  from  sunrise  to  sundown.  And  though  1  m 
much  bound  to  ye  both,  children-I  would'nt  say  it  if  it 
was  not  true — I  crave  to  go  into  the  woods  ag  in,  1  do. 

"Woods!"  echoed  Elizabeth,  trembling  with  her  feel- 
ings •  "do  you  not  call  these  endless  forests  woods?" 

"AhT  child,  these  be  nothing  to  a  man  that's  used  to 
the  wiiderness.  I  have  took  but  little  comfort  sin'  your 
father  come  on  with  his  settlers;  but  I  wouldn  t  go  far, 
while  the  life  was  in  the  body  that  lies  under  the  sod  there. 
But  now  he's  gone,  and  Ohingachgook  is  gone;  and  you 
be  both  young  and  happy.  Yes!  the  big  house  has  rung 
with  merriment  this  month  past!  And  now,  I  thought 
was  the  time  to  try  to  get  a  little  comfort  m  the  close  01 
my  days.  Woods!  indeed!  I  doesn't  call  these  woods, 
Madam  Effingham,  where  I  lose  myself  every  day  of  my 
life  in  the  clearings." 

"  If  there  be  anything  wanting  to  your  comiort,  name 
it  Leather-Stocking;  if  it  be  attainable  it  is  yours." 

"  You  mean  all  for  the  best,  lad;  I  know  it;  and  so  does 
Madam,  too:  but  your  ways  isn't  my  ways.  'Tis  like  the 
dead  there,  who  thought,  when  the  breath  was  m  them, 
that  one  went  east,  and  one  went  west,  to  find  their  heav- 
ens; but  they'll  meet  at  last;  and  so  shall  we,  children 
Yes,  ind  as  you've  begun,  and  we  shall  meet  m  the  land 
of  the  just  at  last."  .    _     ,   . ,  . 

"This  is  so  new!  so  unexpected!"  said  Elizabeth,  m 
almost  breathless  excitement;  "I  had  thought  you  meant 
to  live  with  us  and  die  with  us,  Natty."  -  .... 

"Words  are  of  no  avail,"  exclaimed  her  husband;  the 


424 


THE  PIONEERS. 


habits  of  forty  years  are  not  to  be  dispossessed  by  the  ties 
of  a  day.  I  know  you  too  well  to  urge  you  further,  Natty; 
unless  you  will  let  me  build  you  a  hut  on  one  of  the  dis- 
tant hills,  where  we  can  sometimes  see  you,  and  know  that 
you  are  comfortable." 

" Don't  fear  for  the  Leather-Stocking,  children;  God 
will  see  that  his  days  be  provided  for,  and  his  ind  happy. 
I  know  you  mean  all  for  the  best,  but  our  ways  doesn't 
agree.  I  love  the  woods,  and  ye  relish  the  face  of  man ; 
I  eat  when  hungry,  and  drink  when  a-dry;  and  ye  keep 
stated  hours  and  rules :  nay,  nay,  you  even  overfeed  the 
dogs,  lad,  from  pure  kindness;  and  hounds  should  be 
gaunty  to  run  well.  The  meanest  of  God's  creaturs  be 
made  for  some  use,  and  I'm  formed  for  the  wilderness ;  if 
ye  love  me,  let  me  go  where  my  soul  craves  to  be  ag'in! " 

The  appeal  was  decisive;  and  not  another  word  of  en- 
treaty for  him  to  remain  was  then  uttered ;  but  Elizabeth 
bent  her  head  to  her  bosom  and  wept,  while  her  husband 
dashed  away  the  tears  from  his  eyes;  and,  with  hands  that 
almost  refused  to  perform  their  office,  he  produced  his 
pocket-book,  and  extended  a  parcel  of  bank-notes  to  the 
hunter. 

"  Take  these,"  he  said,  "at  least  take  these;  secure  them 
about  your  person,  and  in  the  hour  of  need,  they  will  do 
you  good  service." 

The  old  man  took  the  notes,  and  examined  them  with  a 
curious  eye. 

"  This,  then,  is  some  of  the  new-fashioned  money  that 
they've  been  making  at  Albany,  out  of  paper!  It  can't  be 
worth  much  to  they  that  hasn't  Parning !  No,  no,  lad — 
take  back  the  stuff;  it  will  do  me  no  sarvice.  I  took  kear 
to  get  all  the  Frenchman's  powder  afore  he  broke  up,  and 
they  say  lead  grows  where  I'm  going.  It  isn't  even  fit  for 
wads,  seeing  that  I  use  none  but  leather !  Madam  Effing- 
ham, let  an  old  man  kiss  your  hand,  and  wisli  God's  choic- 
est blessings  on  you  and  your'n." 

"  Once  more  let  me  beseech  you,  stay !  "  cried  Elizabeth. 
"  Do  not,  Leather-Stocking,  leave  me  to  grieve  for  the 
man  who  has  twice  rescued  me  from  death,  and  who  has 
served  those  I  love  so  faithfully.  For  my  sake,  if  not  for 
your  own,  stay.  I  shall  see  you  in  those  frightful  dreams 
that  still  haunt  my  nights,  dying  in  poverty  and  age,  by 
the  side  of  those  terrific  beasts  you  slew.  There  will  be 
no  evil,  that  sickness,  want,  and  solitude  can  inflict,  that 


THE  PIONEERS.  425 

my  fancy  will  not  conjure  as  your  fate.    Stay  with  us,  old 
man,  if  not  for  your  own  sake,  at  least  for  ours. 

"Such  thoughts  and  bitter  dreams,  Madam  Effingham, 
returned  the  hunter,  solemnly,  "  will  never  haunt  an  in- 
nocent parson  long.  They'll  pass  away  with  God  s  pleas- 
ure And  if  the  catamounts  be  yet  brought  to  your  eyes 
in  sleep,  'tis  not  for  my  sake,  but  to  show  you  the  power 
of  Him  that  led  me  there  to  save  you.  Trust  in  bod, 
Madam,  and  your  honorable  husband,  and  the  thoughts 
for  an  old  man  like  me  can  never  be  long  nor  bitter.  1 
pray  that  the  Lord  will  keep  you  in  mind— the  Lord  that 
lives  in  clearings  as  well  as  in  the  wilderness— and  bless 
you,  and  all  that  belong  to  you,  from  this  time  till  the 
great  day  when  the  whites  shall  meet  the  red-skins  m 
tudgment,  and  justice  shall  be  the  law,  and  not  power/' 

Elizabeth  raised  her  head,  and  offered  her  colorless  cheek 
to  his  salute,  when  he  lifted  his  cap  and  touched  it  re- 
spectfully. His  hand  was  grasped  with  convulsive  fervor 
by  the  youth,  who  continued  silent.  The  hunter  pre- 
pared himself  for  his  journey,  drawing  his  belt  tighter, 
and  wasting  his  moments  in  the  little  reluctant  move- 
ments of  a  sorrowful  departure.  Once  or  twice  he  essayed 
to  speak,  but  a  rising  in  his  throat  prevented  it.  At  length 
he  shouldered  his  rifle,  and  cried  with  a  clear  huntsman  s 
call  that  echoed  through  the  woods,— 

"He-e-e-re,  he-e-e-re,  pups— away,  dogs,  away;  yell  be 
footsore  afore  ye  see  the  ind  of  the  journey! " 

The  hounds  leaped  from  the  earth  at  this  cry,  and  scent- 
ing around  the  graves  and  the  silent  pair,  as  if  conscious 
of  their  own  destination,  they  followed  humbly  at  the 
heels  of  their  master.  A  short  pause  succeeded,  during 
which  even  the  youth  concealed  his  face  on  his  grand- 
father's tomb.  When  the  pride  of  manhood,  however,  had 
suppressed  the  feelings  of  nature,  he  turned  to  renew  his 
entreaties,  but  saw  that  the  cemetery  was  occupied  only 
by  himself  and  his  wife. 

"  He  is  gone ! "  cried  Effingham. 

Elizabeth  raised  her  face,  and  saw  the  old  hunter  stand- 
ing, looking  back  for  a  moment,  on  the  verge  of  the  wood. 
As  he  caught  their  glances,  he  drew  his  hard  hand  hastily 
across  his  eyes  again,  waved  it  on  high  for  an  adieu,  and 
uttering  a  forced  cry  to  his  dogs,  who  were  crouching  at 
his  feet,  he  entered  the  forest. 

This  was  the  last  that  they  ever  saw  of  the  Leather- 


426 


THE  PIONEERS. 


Stocking,  whose  rapid  movements  preceded  the  pursuit 
which  Judge  Temple  both  ordered  and  conducted.  He 
had  gone  far  towards  the  setting  sun,— the  foremost  in 
that  band  of  pioneers  who  are  opening  the  way  for  the 
march  of  the  nation  across  the  continent.1 


1  The  reader  of  1888  will  hardly  need  to  be  reminded  how  rapidly  that  march 
has  proceeded  since  this  tale  was  written— nor  how  the  extremes  of  the  Conti- 
nent have  already  been  reached  and  peopled  with  a  multitude  beside  which  the 
dwellers  on  Manhattan  Island  and  onward  to  the  great  lakes,  a  century  aeo 
were  an  insignificant  fraction.  '    WSU"UI  J  tteu» 


THE  END. 


